Supported living and day service provider acquired as founders retire

Hollybank Trust has acquired a Calderdale providers of support services for people with learning disabilities.

The charity has signed a deal for Halifax-based Community Support Services (CSS), following the retirement of Dawn and Danny Hartley who founded the business 30 years ago, in 1995.

CSS has grown from being a small local provider of outreach and domiciliary care into one of the largest supported living and day service providers for people with learning disabilities in the Calderdale area.

Mirfield-headquartered Hollybank Trust provides education and residential care, plus a range of therapies and enrichment activities, for children, young people and adults with profound and multiple disabilities in West and South Yorkshire.

It has over 600 employees and is commissioned by over 40 local authorities and Integrated Care Boards. As well as running a SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) school, it operates two children’s homes, seven adult residential homes and one nursing service.

Accountancy business, Azets group in Yorkshire, provided deal advisory services for CSS.

CSS was advised by corporate finance partner Tariq Javaid and a team from Azets, with legal advice provided by Marc Allison and Nick Gray from Weightmans.

Legal advice for Hollybank Trust was provided by Emma Moody and Mark Honeywell from Womble Bond Dickinson.

Hollybank Trust secured funding from Lloyds to support the acquisition, which will help the business broaden its offering to deliver supported living and day support services for people with learning disabilities.

Anna O’Mahony, Hollybank Trust chief executive, said: “This acquisition aligns with our mission to expand locally and strengthen and diversify our service offering while ensuring continuity of high quality care for the people we support.

“CSS will continue operating under its existing structure, maintaining its high standards of service while benefiting from the additional resources and expertise of Hollybank.

“Our new partnership will allow us to enhance service delivery by sharing best practice and expertise, ensure long-term sustainability for both organisations, and continue providing high-quality, person-centred support to those who rely on our services.”

Tariq Javaid

CSS joint managing director, Dawn Hartley, said: “It was important to us to find a buyer that cared as much about the people we support and employ as we do.

“We received professional advice from Tariq, his team, and the team at Weightmans which was crucial to allow us to complete this deal with Hollybank.”

Tariq Javaid, Azets partner, said: “We are pleased to have helped Dawn and Danny with their retirement plans and fulfil their wish that CSS be sold to someone who has the same passion and care for the work they do.

“The fit around ethos and values between CSS and Hollybank could not be any closer. I wish all of the team well with the future.”

Lara Berry, relationship manager at Lloyds, added: “We’re proud to have been able to support Hollybank Trust to broaden its offering with the acquisition of CSS.”

CSS will continue to operate under its own name for the immediate future following the deal. There will not be any job losses.