New Heights CIC Launches Christmas Appeal to Open Care Home for Children Other Homes Turn Away
- james carson
- Nov 20
- 4 min read
As most of us look forward to cosy nights, Christmas lights and time with family, a very different reality is facing some of the most vulnerable young people in our community.
This winter, New Heights CIC, a community interest company based in the UK, is launching a Christmas appeal to open a new specialist care home for children and teenagers aged 10 to 17 – the young people who are too often turned away by other homes.
“These aren’t ‘bad kids’ – they’ve been failed”
Across the UK, demand for children’s placements continues to rise. The result is that some young people are being housed far from home, placed in temporary accommodation or left in environments that cannot meet their needs.
“These aren’t ‘bad kids’,” said Gemma Steadman, founder of New Heights CIC and a specialist in high needs care. “They are children and teenagers who have been let down, moved around, and told in so many ways that they don’t fit. Some have been refused by other homes because their needs are complex. Others are stuck in places that were never designed to be a home for a young person. They deserve better than that.”
New Heights CIC’s answer is a new, purpose-designed children’s home that offers not just a bed, but specialist, wraparound support.
More than a roof over their heads
The planned home will focus on young people who have fallen through the gaps in the system. The vision is for a small, nurturing environment where each resident is known, listened to and supported to build a future.
What sets the project apart is the range of support built in from day one:
In-house therapy – so young people can access emotional and mental health support in a safe, familiar environment.
Life skills development – cooking, budgeting, self-care, managing appointments, building independence and confidence.
Education and career support – helping each young person re-engage with school, college, apprenticeships or training, and see a future for themselves.
A stable, caring home environment – consistent adults, clear boundaries, and a culture of safety, respect and belonging.
“We want this to be a place where a teenager can finally exhale,” Gemma said. “Somewhere they can unpack their bags, know they’re not going to be moved on next week, and start to imagine a future for themselves.”
Working with local authorities and providers
New Heights CIC is already in discussions with local authorities and private providers, aiming to complement existing services rather than compete with them. The goal is to provide a specialised option when others say, “We don’t know where else to put this young person.”
By collaborating closely with social workers, placement teams and other professionals, the team intends to create individual support plans that reflect each young person’s history, needs and aspirations.
“This isn’t about pushing children into a system,” Gemma explained. “It’s about shaping the support around them, so they’re not just surviving – they’re actually growing.”
A CIC with shareholders – but children come first
Unlike a traditional charity, New Heights CIC is a community interest company that can have shareholders – but unlike purely commercial providers, those shareholders cannot take all the profit.
“As a CIC, we’re legally bound to put community benefit first,” Gemma said. “Yes, we can have shareholders, but any return to them is strictly limited. The majority of any surplus must be reinvested back into the service, into the children, and into improving the support we offer.
“We want people to know this clearly: no one is getting rich off the back of these young people. The structure allows us to be sustainable and accountable, but the focus – always – is on the children.”
A Christmas appeal with a purpose
The organisation has chosen this Christmas period to launch its fundraising appeal, recognising that the contrast between festive comfort and hidden struggle is especially stark at this time of year.
While many teenagers are arguing over presents or planning holidays, others are facing the festive season in unfamiliar placements, hostels or temporary rooms that don’t feel like home.
“This Christmas, we’re asking people to think about the children who have run out of places to go,” Gemma said. “We can’t fix everything, but together, we can create one safe, specialist home that is truly built around their needs.”
The funds raised will go towards:
Preparing, registering and furnishing the property
Specialist training and staffing
Establishing in-house therapeutic and life skills programmes
Creating a safe, homely environment ready to welcome young people as soon as possible
“A young person like me”
A teenager involved in the project’s youth consultation captured the heart of the appeal:
“From loose change to cash piles… your donation, big or small, can help change the life of a young person like me.”
How to support
New Heights CIC is inviting individuals, businesses, faith groups, schools and community organisations to get involved – through one-off donations, regular giving, fundraising events or corporate partnerships.
Those who want to help can find out more and donate securely via the website
WWW.NEWHEIGHTS44.ORG
As the lights go up across the country this Christmas, New Heights CIC is hoping the community will help them switch on one more: the light above the front door of a new home, where some of the most vulnerable young people can finally feel safe, wanted and hopeful about tomorrow.
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