Bevan:Building Trauma Informed ‑ Children’s Homes
Bevan is developing a small, trauma informed children’s residential home in Bradford and was introduced to the LABD as part of its wider work with vulnerable children and young people. Bevan secured a readiness grant of £10,000 to initiate the project, using the funding to turn an outline business case into a fully developed business plan with five-year financial projections that will underpin a future application for social investment.
The “market” Bevan is entering is a mixed economy of children’s residential care, comprising local authority homes, missioned VCSEs, and many private providers, backed by private equity, and well documented concerns about unregulated provision for vulnerable children. Looking ahead, Bevan’s vision is phased: first, to secure blended social investment, purchase and adapt a suitable property, gain registration and open a three place children’s home in Bradford by summer 2026. They are taking inspirations from Greater Manchester in developing similar project. In the medium and longer term, the organisation aims to develop additional small homes in Bradford in response to strong commissioner demand, and to expand into property linked solutions that help grow the supply of foster carers.
“LABD gave us exactly the stepping stone we needed, the readiness grant, and clear route to blended financing, and the confidence that our vision for a small, trauma‑informed children’s home in Bradford was not only possible but backed by the right partners.”