Creating Safe Havens: Investing in Children's Homes for a Better Tomorrow

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share some insights into a topic that’s really close to my heart – the current trends and challenges in UK children’s homes. It's a subject that affects many lives, and I think it's important we all understand what's happening and why.

For the past 14 years, I’ve been a foster carer, providing a safe and nurturing environment for some of the most challenging and complex children. This experience has shown me firsthand the critical need for quality care homes. To address this, I’ve started a property business that supplies properties to be used as children’s homes to organizations running them on behalf of local authorities. Now, I'm reaching out to potential investors to join me in this vital mission.

Children are placed in children's homes for various reasons, often due to the lack of available foster placements that meet their specific needs. It's never because they are bad or naughty children. Many of these children have complex emotional, behavioral, or medical issues that require specialized care that only residential homes can provide. However some are placed in children's homes simply because of the huge nationwide shortage of foster carers.

The number of children’s homes has been increasing to meet the rising demand. As of March 2024, there were 3,423 children’s homes in England, a 12% increase from the previous year. Such growth is welcomed but there are still shortages of suitable homes plus the distribution of homes are unevenly spread around the UK.

Another reason for the shortage is that children are no longer housed in large institution type buildings. Over the past years there has been a move to create children's homes that are more akin to a normal family home.

There are rarely more than 4 children living in a children's home, usually less, and the home is managed and run to create a 'family home' environment for the children living there. Therefore there are more children being placed in care, fewer foster carers like myself and smaller family style homes in which to house them resulting in the extreme shortage we now face.

The government recognises the need for more children’s homes and the 2024 budget includes a ￡165 million investment to increase capacity and maintain existing homes. This funding is vital, but private investment is also essential to meet the growing demand.

This is where my role comes into play. I raise money from private/angel investors to purchase rundown properties that I can add value to. Once purchased we refurb the properties to meet the organisation's needs. Some homes can be very simply refurbished with modern good quality kitchens and bathrooms etc. while others may need extra consideration to meet the needs of the children living there. This could be additional safety features built in such as sensory considerations for autistic children.

Foster care remains an ideal setting for many children who have suffered trauma, abuse and neglect or those at high risk of it. All children need a safe family environment that supports their development. However, the shortage of foster carers means that residential care is often the only option for many children, especially those with complex needs. This highlights the importance of having a robust network of children's homes.

Why Invest in Children’s Homes?

Investing in children’s homes is not just about providing shelter; it’s about creating a nurturing environment where children can heal and thrive. Here’s why investing in my property business is a meaningful and impactful opportunity:

1. Meeting a Critical Need: There is a significant shortage of quality children's homes. Your investment will directly contribute to addressing this gap by meeting a critical need.
2. Stable and Growing Demand: Sadly the demand for children's homes is steadily increasing and showing no signs of decreasing. This means that there will always be a need for these facilities making investing in children's homes creates a stable long term return on your investment
3. Government Support: With substantial government funding and support for increasing the capacity of children’s homes, the environment is ripe for investment (CYP Now).
4. Social Impact: Beyond financial returns, investing in children's homes is about making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children. It’s an investment in the future of our society.
5. Experienced Leadership: With my extensive experience as a foster carer and working within the social care sector I understand the needs and challenges of these childre. I also understand the role and requirements of the Children's (social) Services, the need for this kind of accommodation and what social workers are looking for. Additionally I understand what the organisations who run the children's homes need. Just providing them with any old property isn't good enough. My property business is designed to create homes that provide the highest standards of care and support.

Conclusion

Understanding the challenges and needs of children’s homes helps us appreciate the complex landscape of child care in the UK. By supporting this initiative, you can help provide stable, nurturing environments for many vulnerable children, ensuring they have the opportunity to thrive.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a significant difference. Let’s work together to create more homes and brighter futures for these children.

Feel free to reach out if you’re interested in learning more about this investment opportunity.

Warm regards, Denise