Our Story

Oaktree UK was founded in 2007 by a group of students looking for a new way to make a difference in young people’s lives.

The founding idea was a simple one: fighting disease and poverty requires the participation of a new generation of young leaders, in developing nations and in Britain. And this work is done best by youth and for youth: young people across the world supporting each other and making a difference. Oaktree is about the potential for young people to work in partnership to reduce poverty and to empower developing communities through education.

Oaktree UK is the British branch of the Oaktree Foundation, which was first established in Australia by Hugh Evans and Nicolas Mackay. Kat Maunders brought the idea to the UK and began working to establish the Oaktree Foundation UK in Oxford in 2007.

Over the past six years, in Australia, Oaktree has raised more than A$1.5million for development projects in six countries, providing more than 40,000 young people with increased educational opportunities. In Australia the organisation has mobilised more than 10,000 supporters, run events reaching more than 150,000 people. The Oaktree Foundation was a key enabler behind the 2006 Make Poverty History concert in Melbourne and the 2007 Make Poverty History Zero Seven road trip. In 2007 the Oaktree Foundation was presented with the “Free Your Mind” award at the MTV Music Awards. In 2008, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd launched the Oaktree Future Fund, and the Oaktree team coordinated its ‘End Child Slavery’ campaign.