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our history
Our Community’s roots go all the way back to 1987 when we became the very first independent fostering agency in the country. We’ve come a long way since those early days, and over the years we have grown, developed and gone from strength to strength. We are proud to be celebrating our 37th year as a leading children’s care organisation, with a team of over 1000 incredible people who are on this journey with us.
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1987
ISP Fostering were the founders of independent fostering; now with teams based across England.
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1993
Clifford House Fostering launched their small, family-feel agency in Bromsgrove.
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1993
Dove Adolescent Services was launched with a clear focus on providing young people across Yorkshire with high quality bespoke residential care.
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1994
FCA was launched; one of the largest fostering agencies in the UK, supporting almost 2,000 young people.
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1994
ISP School in Kent opened its doors to provide therapeutic education to children with specialist needs.
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1996
Orange Grove was launched; providing a nurturing approach and tailored support across nine teams in England.
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1996
Fosterplus was founded; an independent agency with ten teams based across England and Scotland.
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2000
Fostering People, a diverse and therapeutic agency, launched in the East Midlands; supporting families across England and Scotland.
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2000
Headway began to provide child centered residential care for young people in South West England & Wales, enabling them to achieve their potential.
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2001
Leaving Care Solutions was launched to provide semi-independent accommodation and support for young people leaving care.
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2002
FCA Scotland welcomed their first foster child as a new fostering agency; now supporting over 100 families across Scotland.
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2006
Apple Orchard begin to provide therapeutic residential homes and on-site education for young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour.
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2007
North Lakes launches it's residential homes & school in Cumbria to offer trauma-informed care and education to young people with complex needs.
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2009
Polaris Children’s Services was first established by an experienced team working with vulnerable children and families across the UK.
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2010
Bay View begin to support young people experiencing emotional difficulties via therapeutic residential care throughout Lancashire.
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2012
ACS was founded; a cultural and faith-based fostering agency, recognised as champions of diversity across England.
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2012
Area Camden set out to become a leading provider of residential care for young people with complex needs across London and East of England.
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2014
Adopters for Adoption was opened in Worcestershire and now provides highly supportive adoption services on a national level.
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2018
Budwood launches residential care and supported accommodation services in Dorset & Hampshire to provide young people with a stable home.
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2020
The Polaris brand was launched, bringing together the expertise of many children’s services providers into the extensive Community we know today.
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2022
Situated on the edge of Nottingham, Easthorpe School opens - providing specialist education for pupils with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties.
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2023
Based near Cambridge, Selwyn Hall School opens to provide specialist SEN education, with large grounds providing a therapeutic environment.
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2024
Stannard School opens in Dunstable, delivering specialist education to pupils with Autism and/or social, emotional, and mental health difficulties.
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Our Team
The Polaris Community combines the knowledge, skills and passion of nearly 1,000 individuals, specialising in fostering, adoption, education, therapy, leaving care and bespoke children's services.
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Our Services
Each of our providers offers outstanding support and training, with its own unique approach. As a community, we’re able to meet a wide range of needs and make a lifelong difference to children and young people.
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Social Value
The Polaris Community has a combined commitment to measure and maximise our Social Value and impact we have on communities and wider society. Find out more about how we strive to make a difference.