OUR HISTORY


Wilderness Way began as a short-term, mobile service offering children a ‘wilderness experience’ in the remote countryside of Cumbria and southern Scotland.

The children who came to us were in crisis and in need of a place of safety, where the beauty and tranquillity of nature gave them room to breathe, and where outdoor activities offered adventure and fun and helped to build their confidence and resilience. This unique combination of safety, support and adventure had a life-changing impact on the children we looked after, and we built the care that we provide today on these foundations.

2002

Company Established

2007

Registered as a 3 home service providing short-term care

2011

First English home opened: Solway View

2015

Changed our operating model to “Hub and Spoke” offering both short & longer-term care

2022

First provider in UK to launch new Ofsted Multi-Building Children’s Homes

2023

Began programme to expand our homes and increase the number of places we can offer

WILDERNESS WAY TODAY

Today, our specialist care supports some of society’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children from across the country. We create a safe a loving environment in which children can feel safe, and which fosters their physical, emotional, social and intellectual growth.

Our vast experience supporting traumatised children enables us to provide them with the experiences and tools that they need to thrive. Our compassionate and child-focused care, coupled with life-changing experiences and adventures, ensures that children not only begin to recover whilst they are with us, but to thrive.

 

A CULTURE OF CARE

At Wilderness Way, we are more than just a residential care provider, we are a family. Although we have grown in recent years to 51 children’s homes, our values remain the same as they have always been: we genuinely care for our children and each other, and this remains at the heart of all we do. This is reflected in our CARE Values – Compassion, Acceptance, Respect and Empathy – which are embedded and lived in everything we do as an organisation.

 

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INVESTING IN OUR TEAMS

Our teams are made up of a diverse range of people with many different skills, passions and life experiences. But one thing that we all have in common is the ability to engage, inspire, and form life-changing connections with children, as well as an absolute commitment to supporting them to have the most successful and happy lives possible.

We know that for our teams, looking after our children is much more than just a job – it is a passion and a privilege. We value and reward our teams for their dedication and commitment, and fully support them both on a daily basis and in terms of their goals and career development.

We are an accredited provider of the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, which we offer to all members of our care team. We deliver this in-house, ensuring that everyone’s learning journey is tailored to their individual strengths and needs.

We also offer comprehensive training and professional development, and support our colleagues to progress their careers through the organisation, whether this means moving from RSW, to Senior or Home Manager, or moving into a different role such as therapy or education. By promoting the wellbeing and development of our teams this enables us to ensure that our children receive exceptional care.

Careers

Join our team

Working at Wilderness Way is much more than just a job. Being able to change the life of a vulnerable child is one of the most rewarding careers there is.

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Testimonials

What our children say about being at Wilderness Way

We just wanted to thank you all for the work you have done to support our son. Your care, kindness and expertise towards him has been outstanding, and despite everything, we have always felt so secure that he is safe with you guys and in the best possible place. The care teams are brilliant and the way they have persisted to bring him to where he is now has been amazing. What stands out is the way you have all been genuinely prepared to make this work for him, and your care and integrity have enabled him to make such progress.

The care teams are highly efficient, compassionate and dedicated to our child. He has made significant progress there. He has clearly built good relationships with his carers, who show a real understanding of him, his care history, family background and needs.

There has been a great turnaround with this young man. He has had a break from being in a very dangerous situation, and has engaged in activities and rebuilt his character and self-esteem. Although he was only with Wilderness for a short time, it has had a significant impact on his emotional wellbeing, safety and outlook on life.

I am truly taken aback by the level of care you have shown. The staff have gone out of their way to show him the attention and care that he has never had. When I visited him, it was like I was looking at a different child to what he was before he came. He was not like a child in care, he was like a child in a family. You have literally saved his life.

It always gives me great delight to see the progress our children make whilst they are with us, and to watch them thrive. Our children achieve some truly astonishing things in terms of their physical and emotional wellbeing, their safety and independence and, importantly, their confidence, happiness and future life chances. We have our fantastic colleagues to thank for this, who work tirelessly to ensure that our children feel loved and supported and are offered the best possible opportunities.

ROBBIE BURKE

CEO