Tiptoes Child Therapy Services is a specialist service that helps children rebuild their lives after experiencing trauma and neglect. It was able to buy and renovate a new base thanks to a £309,000 loan from Unity.

Tim Woodhouse established Tiptoes Child Therapy Services in 2010 and used the finance to acquire The Old School House in Ashton-under-Lyne.

The building now provides homely, warm, welcoming rooms for therapists and clients and is a far cry from the ‘office units’ the company rented previously.

Tim, Director, said: “I approached Unity for a mortgage because I was interested in their social values.

“Meeting Paul Nugent, our relationship manager, was really refreshing. Paul had faith in us and the services we provide and held our hand throughout the whole process.

“It feels good to be supported by a bank that is socially aware and ethical. We’re a good match because it’s all about putting something back into society; this building is our legacy.”

Impact

Tim Woodhouse witnessed some harrowing cases during his career as a social worker. He set up Tiptoes Child Therapy Services because he wanted to provide long term support to those affected.

He believes ‘removing a child from harm doesn’t necessarily remove the harm from the child’. His 10-strong team of therapists support around 100 clients every week.

Tiptoes provides a range of therapy and works with schools, local authorities, adoption agencies, police, charities, private providers and NHS mental health services.

It also offers training, clinical supervision and emotional wellbeing support to therapists and accommodates two student placements a year.

Tim said: “We needed a building where we could provide the best service for our clients and support our therapists who need space to relax and support each other in between sessions because this work can be inherently stressful.

“One client said ‘it’s like walking into a big hug’ and that sums the building up perfectly.”