London, 22 June 2023

Charme Capital Partners (“Charme”), the pan-European mid-market private equity firm, announces that Charme IV has acquired Bright Futures Care (“Bright Futures” or “the Company”), a leading provider of specialist education and care to people with autism, learning disabilities, and other complex needs in the North-West of England. As part of Charme’s investment, the mid-market private equity firm Livingbridge EP (“Livingbridge”) has retained a minority stake in the business. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Bright Futures currently operates twenty-two schemes across the Cheshire, Merseyside and Manchester regions, including two independent special schools (one of which includes a college for continuing education), six care homes for children, and thirteen care homes for adults. The company delivers person-centred and community-based residential care and education to a growing number of children and adults with acute complex needs in specialist, high-quality settings. Since its foundation, Bright Futures Care has an outstanding reputation for excellence in care and education within local communities. Individual care plans are dedicated to ensuring each person has a great quality of life and achieves their fullest potential. Bright Futures’ schools offer a holistic curriculum designed on the principle of lifelong learning and catering to a wide variety of needs including autism, communication and sensory needs, and specific learning difficulties. All care and learning activities take place in safe, comfortable and spacious environments tailored to individuals’ specific needs and integrated with the local community, thereby offering an opportunity to thrive as well as develop as active members of their community.

Bright Futures’ emphasis on the future of individuals and its ability to meet their long-term needs has earned the trust of families and meant that historically over 80% of children in its care have successfully transitioned into their Adults’ services. These proven pathways have made the Company the partner of choice for local authorities, who seek providers with the specialist skills, expertise and resources to provide holistic and long-term care solutions for the individuals they support.

This unwavering focus on educational care and operational standards is the cornerstone to the Bright Futures’ exceptional, purely organic growth to date. More than ten new fit-for-purpose sites have been opened in the last five years. In addition to maintaining the high standard of Bright Futures’ existing sites and operations, Charme’s investment will enable further organic growth beyond the current geographical base, and thus provide best-in-class care and education to even more children and adults across the UK. 

Julian Huxtable, Partner at Charme Capital Partners, said: “We are delighted to be investing in Bright Futures and look forward to working closely with its management team to support the next phase of the Company’s journey. Charme has proven expertise growing health and social care businesses. With local teams across Europe and valuable learnings from our previous investments in the sector, we are well placed to help Bright Futures bring its best-in-class care and education to a greater number of individuals across the country.”