Martha Trust - providing a home for people with disabilities
Futurebuilders invested £695,125 in Martha Trust to extend and redevelop a site in Hastings and expand its service provision.
The support we have had from Futurebuilders in developing our budget management skills have been invaluable.
The support we have had from Futurebuilders in developing our budget management skills have been invaluable.
About Martha Trust
Martha Trust provides a home for life for people with profound disabilities and provides support for their families.
Martha Trust has three residential homes – Martha House and Frances House located in Deal, Kent and Mary House in Hastings, East Sussex. They also provide day centres on both their Deal sites. Day Care users have full access to all the Trust’s facilities which include a hydrotherapy unit, music and sensory rooms, aromatherapy and massage.
Director of Resources, Judy Heath explains that “our residents have very profound, multiple disabilities, and we have developed a specialist ability to provide care for people with extremely complex needs. We cater for a constantly growing niche, members of which deserve only the best services”
A resident's bedroom at the Trust
“We are unique in that we provide a family-based approach to living with severe disabilities, we believe that people with disabilities are people first and our staff aims to provide an informed service that promotes choice, dignity and privacy”.
How Futurebuilders helped
Futurebuilders invested £695,125 in Martha Trust in the form of a Full Investment. The investment comprised a £637,000 loan to refurbish the Hastings site; a £50,625 revenue grant* towards the recruitment and development of a Service Development Officer to negotiate contracts with purchasers, monitor changes in national and local policy; and a £7,000 capacity building grant, allowing Martha Trust to be able to review its governance structures and working practices, provide training and recruit new trustees.
A Martha Trust arts and crafts workspace
The Futurebuilders investment will increase both facilities available in Hastings and the number of people Martha Trust can care for – the expansion at Mary House will provide 4 extra bedrooms (2 for new long term residents and 2 respite units). The most exciting thing about the refurbishment, Judy says, is the construction of a hydrotherapy pool. “We are really excited about the new hydrotherapy pool. 99% of people who use hydrotherapy pools really enjoy it. It’s great because there is no strain or stress on any part of the body and it’s extremely beneficial”.
Futurebuilders investment leads to increased confidence of commissioners
Organisations that Futurebuilders invest in very often say the investment increases commissioners’ confidence in them. Judy agrees that being associated with the Futurebuilders brand has large benefits:
“Getting a Futurebuilders investment is not a walk in the park – it’s quite a rigorous process and because of which, we are viewed as a credible organisation with a stamp of approval from the fine pick comb that is Futurebuilders.”
Achieving long term stability through Futurebuilders
The Futurebuilders investment enabled the appointment of a Service Development Officer whose role includes the development of a long-term overview of contracting opportunities along with a strategy to support the organisations development. Judy declares that Martha Trust has “already benefited from the ability this appointment has given us to negotiate individual fees to reflect the true cost of our specialisms and services”.
The new building under construction
A member of the Futurebuilders team ventured to Hastings to provide financial consultancy to Martha Trust, effectively enabling the development of a healthy durable budget and establishing a longer term strategic vision.
“The support we have had from Futurebuilders in developing our budget management skills have been invaluable” Judy explains. “We’ve moved towards much longer term budgeting and I really believe that the latest budget is the most robust and comprehensive we have ever had”
Purchasers of Martha Trust’s services include East Sussex County Council and local primary care trusts.
*please note that revenue grants are currently unavailable
What next?
Are you an organisation like Marth Trust who need investment to help you successfully bid for, and win public sector contracts? Then Futurebuilders may be able to help:
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