Foundation in Europe

The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children launched in Europe in August 2005.

Our mission is important and urgent. One million children in the UK alone are affected by repeat homelessness, and they miss out on one quarter of their schooling because of the disruption it causes. One in 10 children live in overcrowded households and have no access to safe play. And recent research shows that unless the influences in the children's lives change in their early years, they are unlikely to be influenced at all.

Our Foundation's focus in Europe is refugees, asylum seekers, and those in repeat cycles of temporary and inadequate accommodation.

The largest group of under-served children are those in overcrowded hostels and Bed and breakfast lodges, where there are virtually no safe places to play. These conditions lead to bullying, low self-esteem, insecurity and extended absences from school. Bright Spaces™ offer these children and families a room designed to encourage children and parents to spend time together in a safe, engaging place, where lasting, supportive friendships can be made.

Until refugee children recieve official refugee status, they only receive food and shelter if their parents sign a form saying they will "return home as soon as possible," the one thing of which they are most terrified. Through Bright Spaces, we offer these children a place to play, a space that feels like a room in one of our centres, whilst parents deal with the tedious and extended business of gaining some form of acceptable citizenship.

Bright Spaces, the signature programme of our Foundation, are created through partnerships between child care centre managers, local agencies, clients and other corporations, and the Foundation. To learn more, please contact us at foundationeurope@brighthorizons.com who receives this and checks it often.