About the charity
We provide long term programmes of support for young people from some of the most challenging backgrounds, providing access to the finance, social capital, opportunities and the supportive relationships needed to succeed in tertiary education and beyond.
The Team
Our team is made up of talented and passionate individuals who are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of the young people we serve. Meet our team and learn more about their unique experiences, backgrounds and roles.
Colin Ferguson
General Manager
Colin is responsible for managing all aspects of the Foundation as it is established and grows. Colin is passionate about education, social mobility and demonstrating evidence-driven impact. His professional background covers university outreach, strategic planning, business intelligence and school governance. Originally from Northern Ireland, he moved to the North East over fifteen years ago and hasn’t looked back! When he gets the time, Colin likes to run (a lot) and clean up after his two cats.
Megan Venn-Wycherley
Programme Manager
Megan coordinates the Foundation’s programmes. She is a keen advocate of computing education for young people, specifically encouraging the development of personal expression, identity and digital democracy through coding and physical computing. Previously in an academic research role, Megan's research explored how school-university partnerships can support the delivery of computing education.
Kyle Anderson
Outreach Officer
Kyle facilitates the delivery of the Foundation’s programmes. He is a student of Newcastle University studying towards an integrated masters in computer science. He enjoys running and going to the gym. During his placement he hopes to help increase the diversity among the programme.
Lauren Oram
Outreach Delivery Lead
Lauren is responsible for leading the Foundation’s engagement with schools. Before joining the team at Altitude, Lauren was a trained primary school teacher. She has worked in many different schools across the North East and is passionate about working with young people. Lauren is a big Newcastle United fan and enjoys going to the matches in her spare time.
The Trustees
As a charity, we are fortunate to have a dedicated group of individuals who serve on our board of trustees and help guide the direction and mission of our organisation. They bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to their roles and are committed to ensuring that our charity is making a positive impact in the lives of young people.
Michael Moran
Trustee
Michael helped incorporate the Altitude Foundation and has been a trustee since the charity was incorporated. Michael is a chartered accountant in practice specialising in charities and has himself served as a charity trustee for various youth charities over the last 30 years. Michael has a special interest in charities to help young people reach their true potential.
Chris Ord
Trustee
Chris is a founding member of the Trustees helping shape the development of the Altitude Foundation from inception to its present day success. Chris loves the North East, and is passionate about education as a means to inspire and empower the lives of all young people, particularly those facing socio-economic barriers. Across a diverse career in this country and abroad, Chris has worked in a range of roles in education, skills, employment, and youth. These include teaching, policy implementation, research, partnership and contract management. He currently works for Newcastle Council. Chris is a published author with five fiction books all set in the local area. He is also a musician and plays Principal Horn for Newbiggin brass band, his home village in Northumberland.
Gary Scott
Trustee
Gary is Chair of Trustees at the Altitude Foundation. Gary was inspired to set up the Altitude Foundation after his own personal experience of how education and technology transformed his life. Although Gary spent his formative career in the City of London, he returned to his native northeast in 2005 where he founded 500+ person tech firm Scott Logic
Helen Scott
Trustee