Silver Birch Care (Holdings) Limited has expanded its specialist therapeutic care portfolio with the acquisition of Clover Childcare Services Limited, one of Norfolk’s leading providers of therapeutic residential care and education

On Friday 28^th November 2025, Silver Birch Care (Holdings) Limited (SBCHL) acquired leading Norfolk-based care provider Clover Childcare Services Limited (CCSL).

CCSL was founded in 2007 by Kath Laidlaw and Dan Knight, and specialises in therapeutic re-parenting, assessment and therapy for children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, including trauma, loss, neglect, and abuse. They currently operate four homes with a total of 16 beds, as well as their own 22-place school, all based in Norfolk.

Their aim is to create a safe, nurturing environment where children can begin to heal, rebuild trust, and develop emotional resilience through consistent, relationship-focused care.

CCSL has been one of only two Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) Certified Organisations in the UK since 2023, reflecting its commitment to trauma-informed, attachment-focused care across all areas of its work. At the heart of its approach are also the principles of the PACE attitude, with these values helping guide every interaction and support children to feel seen, heard, and understood.

With over 50 years of combined experience across both local authority and independent sectors, Kath and Dan have built a service that is both comprehensive and deeply rooted in therapeutic practice, offering lasting support to children and their families.

SBCHL is proud to welcome CCSL as its sixth specialist branch within the group, which now possesses over 20 years of combined experience across its provisions. CCSL will retain its identity, its approach and the culture that makes it such a special place for the children and young people it supports.

SBCHL CEO Karim Lalani commented: “We feel privileged to have been entrusted with taking on the next chapter of CCSL, and are excited to welcome them with open arms as part of our family. We are committed to protecting everything that makes CCSL special, while working together to ensure we can thrive together into the future.”

SBCHL is also very pleased that former Director Dan Knight will remain in post to ensure continuity and support throughout this transition. He added: “SBCHL is a values-driven organisation with a strong record of supporting therapeutic, child-centred services. They share Clover’s ethos, our focus on relationships, and our commitment to restoring and enriching children’s lives. By joining a wider family that understands and respects our approach, Clover will be strengthened, not changed, and will benefit from the additional resources, expertise and strategic support that SBCHL can offer.” Whilst former Director Kath Laidlaw will be stepping down into retirement, we are pleased that she will remain in touch and continue to be part of the CCSL community.

This acquisition marks an important step in SBCHL’s commitment to expanding high-quality therapeutic care across the UK.

SBCHL would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who helped make this acquisition possible, including the Anthony Collins team led by Abbey and Laura; long-standing trusted accountants and advisers from TC Group, Sadik and Fidahussein; adviser Paul; Dan, Kath and their team at CCSL; and the fantastic team at SBCHL led by Karim, Phil, Alison and Tim.

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We are proud to support Kijana Kwanza, a non-profit charity based in Moshi, Tanzania.

Kijana Kwanza works with orphaned children and vulnerable young people to improve their access to education, vocational training and life skills development, helping them to build futures free from poverty. Nestled at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, Kijana Kwanza’s mission closely aligns with our own values: empowering young people through education, skills and opportunity.

Our partnership began in 2024, when our CEO, Karim, travelled to his birth country, Tanzania. During his visit, he met members of the Kijana Kwanza team and children supported by the organisation, and was inspired by their passion and determination to create brighter futures for themselves and their communities. He also led a seminar for vocational students, exploring the economic and social challenges facing young Tanzanians.

Following that visit, we pledged to support the construction of Kijana Kwanza’s new children’s home which will provide emergency shelter for orphans and street children living in Tanzania. The home will meet their physical, mental, emotional and social needs through access to healthcare, quality schooling and recreational activities. It will also train foster parents and build community networks that create stable, nurturing family environments.

In October 2025, members of our team travelled to Tanzania to support Kijana Kwanza’s work directly. Drawing on their experience caring for children and young people in the UK, they helped deliver pastoral support, education and life skills training – all focused on helping young people prepare for independent living and future success. They also led workshops, debates and seminars to strengthen vocational training and community development, working alongside local teams to share ideas and create lasting impact.

There were also some memorable trips – including visits to the Chagga Museum and nearby waterfalls, where the children joined the team for a day of fun, and an unforgettable afternoon with Farmer John on his farm.

The journey was not only inspiring and unforgettable, but also a powerful opportunity to live our values on an international stage. It brought our team even closer together and reminded us all how important it is to appreciate the comforts we often take for granted.

Some of our team then took on the physical and mental challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise vital funds and awareness for Kijana Kwanza’s work. The six-day trek tested their strength and resilience, but it was an extraordinary journey filled with joy, teamwork and purpose.

We are immensely proud of their achievement – and would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far in helping to create lasting, meaningful change in the lives of the young people supported by Kijana Kwanza.

Together, we raised over £5,000 to support Kijana Kwanza’s programmes, helping to provide education, care and opportunities for children and young people in Tanzania.

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We are proud to be a member of The Children’s Homes Association

The Children’s Homes Association (CHA) supports providers of residential childcare throughout England and Wales in transforming the lives of children and young people. As the only source of comprehensive guidance, representation, and support in the sector, the CHA helps its members navigate the complexities and challenges of running children’s homes – sharing a vision for exemplary care and improved outcomes.

The aim of membership is to bring together local authorities, providers, and stakeholders to address challenges and drive improvements for children and young people – and to ensure that government and regulators understand what’s happening on the ground and what needs to change.

The CHA works directly with government and key stakeholders to raise issues, influence policy, and drive positive change – all with the goal of securing better outcomes for children and young people.

Founded on the belief that the sector is stronger together, the CHA promotes shared knowledge, collaboration, and genuine partnership working, so that members can provide the best possible care for our society’s most vulnerable children and young people. Learn more on their website: https://the-cha.org.uk/.

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On Thursday 28th November, we merged with Silver Birch Care (Holdings) Limited (SBCHL).

This merger marks a pivotal step in our joint mission of enhancing the lives of children and young people across the UK. It adds a fifth specialist branch to SBCHL, which now possesses over 20 years of combined experience across its provisions.

It’s been an exciting year for SBCHL, with this being their second acquisition of 2024, following the purchase of Northampton-based care provider Living Life (UK) Limited in July. The company also celebrated the 10-year anniversary of acquiring 16+ supported living service, Silver Birch Care Limited, in the same month.

SBCHL CEO Karim Lalani commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Benecare’s skilled team and services into the SBCHL family. Their guiding principle of ‘care without compromise’ deeply aligns with our own commitment to putting children first in all that we do. This acquisition represents a significant step forward in our mantra of ‘Kaizen’, and we believe that by combining our strengths, we will be able to create even more positive opportunities for the children and young people in our care.”

Former Benecare MD Steve Richmond added: “As Managing Director of Benecare for almost two decades, I am proud to have created a safe and trusted environment to nurture children and young people towards a brighter, more equitable future. The key to this has been our dedicated and hardworking child-centred core staff group, and robust Senior Management Team – all of whom embody ownership of the real task at hand; keeping children safe. I am now looking forward to taking a step back. This significant change has been made easier for me in the knowledge that Silver Birch Care (Holdings), which holds the same core values as Benecare and has achieved good standing in this sector, will be continuing the vital and essential work for all the children and young people entrusted to our care. I wish all colleagues, old and new, the very best for the future.”

SBCHL would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who helped made this acquisition possible, including the Anthony Collins team led by Abbey and Laura, long-standing trusted accountants and advisors Sadik and Fidahussein, Steve and his team at Benecare, and the fantastic team at SBCHL, led by Karim, Greg, and Rebecca.

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