Welcome to Calcot Services for Children

A time to heal.

Established since 1989

Calcot Services for Children Therapeutic Foundation comprises four therapeutic communities in Reading, Berkshire with close links to psychiatric and psychotherapeutic services. Our four communities are Calcot Cottage (incorporating Yew Tree Cottage), Palmera and The Dingles.

Calcot Cottage and The Dingles are directly set up to enable the most vulnerable children and young people to achieve permanency within a family, Yew Tree Cottage, Palmera or other long-term organisation . A whole range of methods are involved in this process including psychotherapy with an external consultant, group work, direct work, comprehensive activity plans and behaviour work. Palmera is directly set up to offer young people the opportunity to learn skills that will equip them to live successfully in the community and Palmera is able to take referrals independently of our other two communities. All three communities are committed to supporting children and young people to be healthy, to stay safe, to enjoy and achieve, to make a positive contribution and, as they grow older, to be able to achieve economic well-being; the five goals set out by Every Child Matters.

CSFC are members of the Association of Therapeutic Communities, the National Children’s Bureau, the Independent Children’s Homes Association, the Social Care Association and were awarded the Investors in People in April 2003. We work closely with PACT Further Education and Skills for Care as lead partners in providing NVQ training in the South East.

We are also members of the Charterhouse Group and Community of Communities. Charterhouse Group members are committed to working with children and young people using therapeutic community principles. Furthermore, Community of Communities (C of C) is a standards-based quality improvement network which brings together Therapeutic Communities (TCs) in the UK and internationally.