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Coming soon: Birtenshaw Bond Offer
The Birtenshaw Group provides education and support to children
and young adults with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). Read on
for details of a new charity bond offer investing in The Birtenshaw Group,
coming to the platform this December.
News
- 1 December 2025
Founded nearly 70 years ago in Bolton, The Birtenshaw Group supports young people with significant physical impairment, complex health needs, learning disabilities and/or Autistic Spectrum Conditions through award winning and highly acclaimed services to lead independent and fulfilling lives. The group operates special schools in Bolton and Liverpool, a specialist college in Bolton, several children’s homes, Adult Supported Tenancies and further services including a community café, a horticultural project and a sports and activity centre.
The new bond offer will seek to raise £3m for The Birtenshaw Group to redevelop its further education college in Bolton to create a purpose-built site with high quality facilities, including therapy rooms, wet rooms and improved access to outdoor space.
Birtenshaw College was established at the request of Bolton Council to help meet demand for support for young people aged 19-25 years with special educational needs and disability. Currently housed in a former residential care home for the elderly, the site is not fit to meet the needs of those who use it, is not energy efficient and often requires costly – and disruptive – repairs and maintenance. As well as creating much improved facilities, redeveloping the site will allow The Birtenshaw Group to double the college’s capacity to 80, boosting its social impact even further.
Triodos has a well-established relationship with Birtenshaw, after a loan from the bank in 2021 helped the organisation to more than double the capacity at its school in Bolton for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The new extension features state-of-the-art facilities that help children make progress with their education, social and independence skills and you can read more about it here.
A first look at the bond offer
Due to be launched in December 2025, the six-year charity bond offer will have a minimum investment of £50 and 7.75% interest per year. Payment of interest and repayment of capital are not guaranteed. The funds raised will help meet the £18m required for the project and will be used together with a further £15m in blended finance from Triodos Bank and Dutch financial services provider, ASR.
The bonds are eligible to be held in a Triodos Innovative Finance ISA which allows investors to earn interest tax-free subject to eligibility. ISA eligibility does not guarantee returns or protect consumers from losing their money.
Meet Haroon
Recent Birtenshaw College students include Haroon, who enrolled in 2022, aged 19. A former Birtenshaw School pupil, Haroon has special educational needs in relation to communication, social interaction and play, consistent with his diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Furthermore, his self-help skills were significantly delayed and his motor skills immature.
The main aims for staff working with Haroon at Birtenshaw College were to improve his independent skills and prepare him for life as an adult. He experienced a tailored curriculum that focused on Preparing for Adulthood skills, including subjects such as Employability, Health (emotional and physical) and Independent Living, along with Friends, Relationships and Community. He also had the chance to take part in a number of work placements and a range of enrichment opportunities such as his winning role in a college talent show band and the big part he played in organising the class prom.
After finishing college in July 2025, Haroon completed a supported internship to help him gain meaningful paid employment.
As well as the opportunity to learn new skills and develop his employability, the nurturing and supportive environment at Birtenshaw College helped Haroon to make some great friendships with his peers that will have a lasting impact as he grows into adulthood.