BONTERRE CIC

What BONTERRE CIC does

BONTERRE CIC is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company founded in 2014 by Mike Stringer, operating from an 8-acre rural smallholding on the Top Barn estate just north of Worcester, UK. The organisation delivers land-based alternative education, therapeutic services, and community wellbeing programmes built on Care Farming principles, using horticulture, animal care, and rural crafts as the primary engagement medium rather than any proprietary software or technology platform.

Its core service is alternative provision for children aged 5-18 who struggle in mainstream school settings due to SEND (including ADHD and autistic spectrum conditions), anxiety, depression, trauma histories, or exclusion risk; children typically spend up to 16 hours per week at the farm with trained youth workers. The portfolio extends into schools programmes (Grow To Eat, Farm to Fork, Living Land, Land Girls, Science Days), home education group sessions, a new private tutoring service (launched March 2026 at £55/hour), onsite occupational therapy (HCPC-registered) and BACP-registered psychotherapy, a Families Programme, a Summer Club HAF offering, a Music Club, and a commercial cut-flower sub-brand, Bonterre Blooms. The organisation is CEVAS-accredited and reports a 75% improvement in school attitudes among participating children.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: school contracts funded via pupil premium or EHCP allocations, private therapeutic and tutoring fees, community programme charges (£8-£55 per session), produce and floristry sales, and grants from charitable trusts and corporate foundations (National Lottery Community Fund, Oakland Foundation, Ardonagh Community Trust, Spectris Foundation, Duckworth Worcestershire Trust, Tesco Stronger Starts, Sainsbury's). Go-to-market is entirely referral- and community-led, relying on school partnerships, word-of-mouth, and partnerships with local support organisations, with no formal sales team and no paid advertising.

Name

BONTERRE CIC

Legal name

Bonterre CIC

Website

https://bonterre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BONTERRE CIC is a Worcester-based not-for-profit operating an 8-acre smallholding that delivers land-based alternative education, occupational therapy, counselling, and community programmes for children with SEND, additional needs, and those at risk of school exclusion across the West Midlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Alternative Education Contracts: Schools contract Bonterre services using pupil premium funding or include provision in children's EHCPs. This is the primary revenue stream for core educational services.
2. Private Therapeutic Services: Private pay for occupational therapy assessments and intervention sessions, counselling services, and tutoring. OT assessment packages priced on request; counselling and private tutoring available at hourly rates.
3. Community Programme Fees: Fees for community activities including Home Ed sessions (£8/tuesday session, £50/4-week block Wednesday), Music Club (£10/child), and Summer Club private spaces (£35/day).
4. Donations and Fundraising: Go Fund Me campaigns for building projects, individual donations through Easyfundraising, and 'Friends of Bonterre' monthly subscription (£10+/month). Donations support facility improvements and operational costs.
5. Produce Sales: Sale of seasonal fruit, vegetables, cut flowers (Bonterre Blooms), and chicken/duck eggs. All profits reinvested into supporting Bonterre's charitable mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BONTERRE CIC is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company providing land-based alternative education, therapeutic services, and community wellbeing programmes from an 8-acre rural smallholding just outside Worcester. It delivers nature-based programmes using horticulture, animal care, and rural crafts to support children with SEND, anxiety, trauma, and those at risk of exclusion from mainstream school, supplemented by schools programmes, occupational therapy, counselling, and community workshops.

Product overview

BONTERRE CIC is a not-for-profit organisation offering a portfolio of land-based educational, therapeutic, and community services from a rural smallholding near Worcester. The core offering centres on Alternative Provision for children at risk of exclusion, supplemented by Schools Programmes (Grow To Eat, Farm to Fork, Living Land, Land Girls, Science Days), Home Ed Group Sessions, and Private Tutoring. Therapeutic services include Occupational Therapy (Emma Nokes) and Person-Centred Counselling (Abbie). Community offerings comprise the Families Programme (supported by National Lottery Community Fund), Summer Club/HAF programme, Bonterre Blooms floristry sub-brand, Produce Sales, Music Club, and Ready Steady Cook Challenge Events. The organisation uses nature, animals, and outdoor activities to benefit young people's emotional wellbeing and physical health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bonterre Blooms: Cut flowers, foliage, and floristry packages for weddings and other events, with a separate website at bonterreblooms.co.uk

Products and services

• Alternative Provision Tailored land-based sessions for children at risk of exclusion or crisis, including those with SEN, anxiety, or trauma. Children spend up to 16 hours per week at the farm with trained youth workers, engaging in purposeful farm activities to build confidence, self-belief, and social skills.
• Schools Programmes Structured programmes for visiting school groups including Grow To Eat (6-week outdoor activities), Farm to Fork (farm visits), Living Land (weekly sessions with campfire discussions), Land Girls (tailored for girls), and Science Days aligned with the national curriculum.
• Home Ed Group Sessions Weekly sessions for home educated students learning countryside skills and collaborative activities. Tuesday sessions (age 4+) focus on outdoor fun; Wednesday sessions (age 11+) combine forest school, farm, arts, crafts, woodwork, cookery, and exploration.
• Private Tutoring Specialist person-centred tutoring combining qualified teaching expertise, trauma-informed practice, and outdoor learning. Delivered by a PGCE-qualified teacher with 13 years' experience, former SENDCo Assistant and Mental Wellbeing Lead. Targets children needing something different from traditional education.
• Counselling Services Person-centred counselling and psychotherapy delivered by a BACP-registered practitioner (BSc Hons, MSc). Offers sessions for adults, young people, and children including those with SEN, in farm-based (animal care, walk and talk, crafts, campfire) or indoor, video, and phone formats.
• Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy services for children and young people (5-18 years) delivered by an HCPC-registered OT (MSc OT, RCOT, PGCE). Supports sensory processing, attention, motor skills, emotional regulation, and neurodivergent children through nature-based, hands-on activities at the farm.
• Families Programme Holiday and evening activities for families of children with additional needs, those with family members with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or on low incomes. Includes family social evenings, activity days, and visits delivered in partnership with organisations such as Sight Concern Worcestershire and Worcester Special Mums.
• Summer Club (HAF Programme) Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme providing fun activities for children receiving benefits-related free school meals. Sessions include animal encounters, horticulture, arts and crafts, sports, team games, campfire activities, and nature walks, with healthy lunch provided.
• Bonterre Blooms Cut flowers, foliage, and floristry packages for weddings and events, with workshops for community members to learn floristry skills. Operated as a separate sub-brand with its own website, with all profits supporting Bonterre CIC's charitable work.
• Produce Sales Seasonal fruit, vegetables, and flowers grown on the farm for sale, including pick-your-own days in summer and autumn. Chicken and duck eggs are available year-round, with all profits reinvested into supporting Bonterre's charitable work.
• Music Club Weekly music club for children ages 8-12 (Mondays, 4:00-5:30pm, £10 per child). Children explore music in indoor and outdoor settings across the farm, including instrument introduction, drumming workshops, musical games, and rhythm activities.
• Ready Steady Cook Challenge Events

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of children report improvement in attitude towards school after attending Bonterre
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Malvern PanalyticalminorOthers · 1 July 2025Team of volunteers who helped kickstart wildlife area expansion project. In one day they built a wheelchair-accessible raised pond, installed fencing posts, relocated bird hide, and cleared brambles.
• University of WorcestercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Donated an old shipping container that was transformed into a music room for Bonterre students. Container was fixed up and decorated with help from students, creating an inspiring space for music education.
• Heart of Worcestershire CollegecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Donated old music technology equipment including instruments, mixers, and studio gear to fully kit out the new music room.
• Sight Concern WorcestershireminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with Bonterre in providing activities and events for families with visual impairments they work with.
• Dines Green's Community BuilderminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with Bonterre in providing activities and events for families in the local community.
• Worcester Special MumsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with Bonterre in providing activities and events for families they support.
• University of Worcester Lakeside CampusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with Bonterre in providing family activity days and visit days for families in the local community.
• Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS) / LEAFcoreOthers · 1 January 2014Registered with CEVAS, managed by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) on behalf of the Access to Farms Partnership. Demonstrates commitment to safe and impactful farm experiences.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hesley Group: Specialist residential care and education provider for children and adults with autism, learning disabilities, and complex needs. Overlaps with Bonterre's SEND-targeted therapeutic services but as a much larger, multi-site residential operator.
• Catch-22: National social business delivering alternative provision, education, and social inclusion services across the UK, including AP for children at risk of exclusion. Much broader portfolio than Bonterre, but competes for the same school AP contracts and SEND funding.
• Mulberry Bush School: Therapeutic residential school for children with severe social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties in Oxfordshire. Larger and more established specialist education provider serving a similar vulnerable-children population, but operates as a residential rather than day-visit model.
• Acorn Care Group: Multi-service education provider including alternative provision, SEND support, and therapy services. Comparable overlap with Bonterre's AP and OT offerings, but operates at larger scale across multiple UK regions.

Others

• Care Farming UK: UK-wide network supporting care farming providers, of which Bonterre is a member. Not a direct competitor, but an industry body representing the care farming model Bonterre operates within.
• Place2Be: UK children's mental health charity providing in-school counselling and emotional support. Adjacent to Bonterre's counselling service, but delivers primarily in school settings rather than on a farm.
• Forest Schools UK Network: UK network supporting outdoor, nature-based learning for children — overlapping with Bonterre's Home Ed sessions and Schools Programmes, but operating across woodland rather than farm environments.

Direct peers

• Jamie's Farm: UK charity running residential and day farm programmes for vulnerable young people, including alternative provision for children at risk of exclusion. Operates a near-identical care farming model with multiple sites, making it the closest direct comparable to Bonterre's alternative provision offering.
• The Country Trust: Charity connecting schools and disadvantaged children with farms and the countryside for educational visits. Directly comparable to Bonterre's Schools Programmes (Farm to Fork, Science Days, Living Land) and serves a similar SEND and disadvantaged-children audience.
• Farms for City Children: Charity founded by Michael Morpurgo that hosts urban children on working farms for residential educational visits, combining animal care, food production, and outdoor learning. Closely comparable to Bonterre's Schools Programmes (Farm to Fork, Grow To Eat) and care farming ethos.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BonterreCIC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bonterre-cic
• Instagraminstagram.com/bonterrecic

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BONTERRE CIC