The chain is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the launch of the European branch of its charity Foundation for Children, which helps vulnerable children and their families. It has created ten Bright Spaces within temporary housing facilities and refuges in the UK and Ireland where children and families in crisis can relax and play.
In the US, where Bright Horizons is based and where Foundation for Children started ten years ago, there are more than 100 Bright Space projects.
Susan Hay, director of the European Bright Horizons Foundation, said, 'We are at a similar stage as they were in the US five years into the project and are now becoming known in the sector in this country for making a difference to families.
'Next year we have plans to open four more Bright Spaces, and will be increasing the number of grants available year-on-year.'
Last year the Balsam Family Project in Oxfordshire became the sixth Bright Space to be created in Europe. The project provides support for families in the community who are vulnerable or in need.
Services offered by the project include the Balsam family college, delivering a ten-week training programme to teach basic parenting, life skills and home management, and a Community Friends programme which matches mentors with families to help at home.
Co-founder and trustee Alex Walker said, 'Since opening in 2009, we now support around 24 families. We offer a complete package of community support to a small number of vulnerable children, and work intensively with parents. As far as we know,this is the only project of its kind in the country.'
The Foundation's Bright Spaces are created in partnership with Bright Horizons clients, employees and community agencies. This year the charity worked with West Lothian Women's Aid, the Blanchardstown Women's Refuge and Northants Women's Aid to open five new Bright Spaces.
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