At Welcare Children’s Homes, every day holds a new opportunity for growth. From learning trades like bricklaying to volunteering for the homeless, our children are thriving. These true stories highlight the power of care, structure, and community in shaping positive futures.
Welcare is proud to announce the transformation of The Grange, a remarkable listed building, into a modern children’s home designed specifically for emergency placements. This five-year project is backed by a substantial £3 million investment and reflects our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, safe and therapeutic care to the UK’s most vulnerable children.
A Heritage Site with a Healing Future
The Grange stands as a symbol of British architectural heritage. As a Grade II listed building, every step of the renovation has been carefully considered to ensure the historical character is preserved. While the outside will remain in keeping with its original features, the interior is being modernised with therapeutic functionality in mind.
Why Emergency Placements Matter
Children requiring emergency placements are often in the midst of crisis. They may be fleeing unsafe situations, experiencing family breakdowns, or dealing with trauma that requires immediate, secure and stabilising care. The Grange will serve as a safe haven during these critical moments.
Our goal is to provide:
Immediate access to therapeutic care
A warm, homely environment
A secure and calm setting to stabilise and support
Access to natural light and outdoor space
Design for Care: Light, Space and Safety
From the outset, The Grange has been designed with child-centred care in mind. While preserving the architectural integrity, every internal room, corridor and communal space is being created to support emotional wellbeing and physical safety.
Key features include:
Bright, airy rooms with natural light
Private therapeutic spaces
Secure access areas
A large, enclosed garden and yard for outdoor play and grounding
Interiors designed to be calming and non-institutional
Built for the Future: Five-Year Vision
The Grange project spans five years and is already well underway. The phased development ensures that every detail meets the needs of both the children and care professionals who will call it home.
A Cornerstone of Welcare’s Emergency Services
The Grange is more than a building. It will become a critical asset in our national network of children’s homes, with a special focus on emergency placements. We anticipate it will:
Reduce pressure on local authorities during crisis situations
Offer children an immediate sense of safety and belonging
Provide high-quality care within hours of placement
Be a model of ethical, regulated emergency accommodation in the UK
Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future
We understand that a listed building comes with responsibilities. That’s why our renovation team is working with heritage consultants, local authorities, and child care experts to ensure that The Grange respects its history while meeting the highest standards of modern care.
This means:
No alterations that impact listed features
Sensitive integration of security systems
Eco-friendly updates that support sustainability
Children Deserve the Best
At Welcare, our philosophy is simple: children deserve the best.
Emergency care should not mean second-best accommodation. The Grange represents our belief that even in crisis, children deserve beauty, safety, comfort and therapeutic support.
Read More
Registering children’s homes in an emergency – GOV.UK / Ofsted Guidance -This explains when children’s homes can be registered urgently to meet an emergency placement need.
