Frequently asked questions

Not yet — but we're actively working on it. Becoming a UK registered charity involves several formal steps: defining our charitable purposes, appointing independent trustees, creating a governing document, establishing core policies (safeguarding, data protection, conflicts of interest), and completing the Charity Commission registration process.

We're targeting registration in 2026. In the meantime, we're building in public — gathering volunteers, raising seed funding, and being transparent about exactly where we are in the process.

All donations made via our GoFundMe are protected by GoFundMe's Giving Guarantee, which provides money-back donor protection.

We'll announce registration as soon as it's confirmed.

Full details are set out on our GoFundMe page.

In summary, donations will help fund: (1) UK charity setup and governance — registration, policies, compliance; (2) the website and supporter systems to securely manage registrations and referrals; (3) launch outreach and awareness to reach founders who are struggling in silence; and (4) an initial pilot of practical founder support — triage, peer-led circles, and a vetted referral network.

We'll publish updates on spend and progress. Transparency isn't optional for us — it's foundational.

Yes. Everything you share with Fortitude is treated in strict confidence.

We will never share your name, your situation, or the fact that you've contacted us — unless you give explicit permission, or unless we believe someone is at immediate risk of serious harm (in line with our safeguarding obligations).

We're building data protection policies in line with UK GDPR, and all volunteer supporters will be briefed on confidentiality before they engage with any founder.

If you're worried about reaching out — that's completely normal. You don't need to use your real name in the first instance.

Fortitude Foundation was founded by Ross Williams — a founder who built and ran Venntro Media Group for 21 years before it went into administration. Ross has lived the reality of collapse first-hand, and Fortitude was born from the gap in support he found when he needed it most.

You can read more about Ross and his story at www.ReformedEntrepreneur.com.

We're building Fortitude as a founder-led charity, with proper governance and safeguards as we formalise the charity structure. That means independent trustees, published policies, and financial transparency.

If you know a founder who's struggling — whether they're a friend, a colleague, a family member, or someone on your board — you can let them know about Fortitude by sharing this website with them, or register your interest and tell us about them through our form.

We'll never contact someone without their knowledge or consent. If you refer someone, we'll reach out gently, let them know someone cares about them, and give them the option to engage entirely on their own terms.

If you're not sure whether someone needs help, or you're not sure how to approach the conversation, register your interest and we'll do our best to guide you.

We're targeting a formal launch once we've secured charity registration, assembled our initial volunteer cohort, and raised enough seed funding to run our first pilot programmes.

Realistically, we expect this to be in 2026 — but we're not waiting until everything is perfect. We're already building the volunteer network, creating resources, and where possible, connecting founders with support informally.

If you're a founder in crisis right now, please don't wait for us to launch. Reach out through our form and we'll do what we can today.

Yes. We will never charge founders for support. Fortitude is being built as a charity — our services will always be free to the people who need them. We're funded by donations and volunteer time, not by charging vulnerable people for help.

There's no threshold. If you're struggling — whether that's full-blown business collapse or just the creeping feeling that everything is slipping — you're welcome here. We'd much rather hear from you too early than too late. And if it turns out you don't need us, we'll say so honestly.

Yes. You don't need to use your real name when you first reach out. We'll work with whatever level of disclosure you're comfortable with. As trust builds, most people open up — but that's entirely your call.

Fortitude is not therapy. We don't provide clinical mental health treatment, and our volunteers are not trained counsellors. What we offer is practical, peer-led support: help prioritising what needs attention, connections to professionals, and a community of founders who understand what you're going through. If we think you'd benefit from therapy, we'll encourage you to pursue it — and help you find it if needed.

Start by registering your interest. Tell us a bit about your background, skills, and how much time you could offer. We'll match you with the right opportunity — whether that's mentoring, specialist support, community hosting, or simply spreading the word.