Our homes / Birchwood House
Birchwood House
Birch trees are the first to take root in new ground. Birchwood House is for young people stepping into their next chapter with confidence.
From care to confidence.
Birches are among the first trees to grow back after a fire or storm. They start small and slender and quickly fill the space with light. They grow in the ground they're given.
Birchwood House is for older young people, usually aged 14 to 18, who are working towards independence and preparing for life after residential care. Some have lived in other Springwood homes and are ready for the next step.
Therapeutic support stays central. Alongside it we build practical confidence, vocational skills and the self-belief a young person needs to flourish as an adult.
Life skills are part of care
Too many young people leave care without the practical and emotional skills adult life demands. We build them one step at a time.
Cooking and nutrition
Every young person learns to really cook, from planning a weekly menu on a budget to making a meal from scratch.
Money and budgeting
Bills, benefits, banking and budgets, worked through practically and without shame.
Running a home
Cleaning, laundry, small repairs and managing a tenancy, learned as part of daily life.
Getting around
Public transport, journey planning and road safety, built up gradually and with confidence.
Digital skills
Online safety, email, job applications and government services.
Relationships and wellbeing
Healthy relationships, consent, stress and using health services. Often the least taught, and among the most important.
Independence built on a foundation of care
Preparing to leave care is exciting, and for many young people it is also frightening. We are honest about that.
Therapeutic support becomes more important as young people face the world more directly. Keywork continues, reflective conversations continue, and so does the message that they are valued whatever comes next.
- Regular keywork throughout the placement and transition
- Personal development planning, built together
- Active involvement in local authority pathway planning
- Staying in touch after a young person moves on
“Leaving care should not feel like falling off a cliff. It should feel like taking flight: supported, prepared and believing you can.”Birchwood House care team
Finding what they love
We help each young person find something that could become a trade, a career or simply a source of pride.
- GCSEs, where not yet completed
- Sixth form, college and vocational qualifications
- Apprenticeships and work-based learning
- CVs, interviews and workplace skills
- Preparation for university where appropriate
- Creative, sport and outdoor qualifications
What commissioners should know
We work closely with placing authorities from day one so that pathway plans are realistic, timely and properly resourced.
- Full participation in statutory reviews
- Detailed written reports and risk assessments
- Proactive pathway and transition planning
- Close liaison with personal advisers and leaving care teams
- Support with housing, benefits and community services
- 24/7 on-call support for placing authorities
Is Birchwood House right for your young person?
Whether you're considering a referral or planning a move from another Springwood home, our team is here to help.