The two former directors of the training and consultancy business haverelinquished private membership and declared the company not-for-profit.They said that decisions will now be taken by a newly strengthenedco-operative board.
As a social enterprise the company will be able to work withpublicly-funded providers and projects.
New director Nathan Archer said, 'Profit was never a driver for us - itwas never the main aim of the company. Any profit we get will now be putstraight back into the business.
'We had a review of our structure in light of the fact that the workwe're doing has social benefit and felt it was appropriate to go downthe social enterprise route. The decision opens new doors in terms ofpartnership and future projects.'
The Children's House has just received 5,000 in lottery fundingfrom Arts Council England to run a conference about creativity in theearly years in April.
'This is the kind of project we wouldn't be able to take part in as aprivate company,' said Mr Archer.
The Children's House Consultancy was set up in 2003, and providesresearch, advice, training and consultancy to early years groups. Itssister company runs the Children's House nursery on a farm inStallingborough, Lincolnshire.
'Our strengths are in business and management, but we're also rooted inpractice because we have a sister nursery,' said Mr Archer. 'We canempathise and understand the challenge that settings have of beingsustainable.'
Further information: Places at the 'Why Creativity?' conference, beingheld in Barton upon Humber on 12 April, cost 15. For informationgo to ww.tchconsultancy.org.
