We're Celebrating One Year of Impact, Supporting Fathers and Young Entrepreneurs Across Scotland
The Mark Williams Foundation is celebrating our first anniversary, marking a year in which we have raised £175,000, supported fathers navigating family separation, and mentored young entrepreneurs across Scotland.
Founded in memory of entrepreneur, husband and father Mark Williams, we were established to create lasting impact through our work supporting young entrepreneurs and fathers facing separation from their children.
We registered as a charity on 21 July 2025 and officially launched two months later, at an event at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh that raised more than £100,000 on the night.
In our first year, we have built two core programmes. Through our Legal Support Initiative, delivered in partnership with Johnson Legal Family Law, we have supported 4 fathers navigating family separation, helping them secure contact with their children.
Through our Entrepreneur Programme, supported by the EY Foundation, we have mentored 5 young entrepreneurs, giving them access to bespoke development, mentorship from experienced business leaders, and real-world commercial experience.
"A year ago this was an idea. Today it's a charity that is changing lives, and that's down to everyone who has given their time, their support, and their belief in what we're building in Mark's memory. We set out to help fathers and young people find their footing again, and to see that happening within our first year has meant more to us than we could have hoped for."
Nicola Williams
Founder
Recognising that legal support alone did not meet every father’s needs, we launched our Wellbeing and Support pillar in April 2026, offering community and peer connection to fathers who had completed the legal process, and to those who did not meet the criteria for legal support but still needed somewhere to turn.
This has included a Cold Water Dip challenge held in Mark’s memory and a peer-to-peer Father’s Day walk in the Pentland Hills, alongside mental health awareness training for our volunteers.
Our work has also received wider recognition in our first year.
Our Founder, Nicola Williams, was invited to the King’s Garden Party at Holyroodhouse, and our Executive Director, Sarah Peacock, was nominated for Employee of the Year at the Scottish Charity Awards.
"Every number in this first year represents a person: a father back in his children's lives, a young entrepreneur with the confidence to build something of their own. That's what keeps us going into year two."
Sarah Peacock
Executive Director
As we mark our first anniversary, we continue to raise funds and awareness for our work through donations and our anniversary merchandise range, and we’re looking ahead to building on our first year of impact.
We like to think Mark would be proud of what we’ve built in his legacy, and as we blow out the candles, we’re humbled by the support and engagement that’s helped us keep that legacy alive.
