Specialist care provider secures seven-figure investment to develop therapeutic community for children
Nuneaton-based Forge Care, a specialist therapeutic community for children with a history of early-life trauma, has secured more than £1m in funding.
The investment will enable the company to open its first therapeutic community in Nuneaton. The Forge will house 24 children and create more than 80 jobs in the area. Once the first site is established, the care provider will be searching for further locations across the country to roll out its model of care to more local authorities.
Forge Care is a community, sanctuary and home that enables a fully therapeutic experience for children who have faced disruption to their early development with severe early-life trauma. The team is led by the Miller family who have an extensive understanding of the market from previously founding a group of care homes for adults with learning difficulties.
They are also supported by Dave Hughes, who joins the business with substantial knowledge of operations from working in large care providers and two West Midlands authorities. The therapy team is run by Brigid Wells, who brings more than 20 years of experience working with vulnerable children and their families.
The funding came from Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) West Midlands Equity Fund, managed by Midven, part of the Future Planet Capital Group.
Giovanni Finocchio, investment director at Midven, said: “We look forward to working with Forge Care in developing its first therapeutic community in Nuneaton. The level of individual care required to help these children is simply not achievable in the existing settings. Forge Care’s therapeutic communities will ensure that emotional recovery, welfare and wellbeing is available to improve the circumstances of many children and young people. Supporting the Miller family through the process will be rewarding and enable them to improve so many lives.”
Gavin Miller, CEO of Forge Care, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to announce that Forge Care have secured a £1m equity investment from Midven. The investment is going to enable our business to continue to grow, providing further economic growth to the local region. We aim to use this investment to develop more homes for children to really accelerate our growth as a business, and our reach into more communities.”
Forge Care was advised by Burgis & Bullock and The Wilkes Partnership.
