The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children proudly celebrated the grand reopening of its refurbished Bright Space at Andrew Provan House on Thursday, 20th February.
Bright Spaces are designed to make a real difference and support thousands of vulnerable children across the UK. These safe, fun, and nurturing spaces are where children can recover from trauma and adversity, and build positive relationships. This particular Bright Space at Andrew Provan House has undergone a significant refurbishment. Andrew Provan House was the very first Bright Space to open in the UK and officially opened in May 2008. Since then, it has remained a vital communal area where families can socialise, heal, and build supportive connections with others in similar situations.
Forbo Flooring generously donated new flooring to enhance the environment, which it has also been freshly painted and furnished, equipped with a variety of toys, books, games and art supplies, and continues to create a warm and inviting atmosphere designed to help families feel at ease and at peace.
Part of the Field Lane charity, Andrew Provan House primarily supports homeless families by providing independent living spaces that foster stability and rehabilitation. Its mission is to help families regain their footing through training, community support, and a sense of belonging. The Bright Space areas play a crucial role in this effort, offering a welcoming space for families to come together, engage, and rebuild their lives.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Bright Horizon’s Managing Director International, Ros Marshall and Field Lane Chief Executive Officer, Peter Calderbank. As the ribbon was cut, mothers shared their stories while their children played together in the newly refurbished space. The ceremony was also attended by former Bright Horizons Foundation Director, Susan Hay, who was present when the space first launched in 2008, adding a meaningful connection to its history and evolution.
One mother shared her thoughts: “The Bright Space is a breath of fresh air. It’s great to be in here, the colour palette and the furnishings are so nice. I loved that the team listened to us. We had a meeting where they took a lot of things on board, they listened to us about things such as furnishings and sustainable wooden toys. It has been brought to life again. It’s relaxing to have a space to decompress with my child”.
Peter Calderbank said, “It’s vital for our residents and their children to have a secure, welcoming and engaging space in which they can enjoy being together as families. We are very grateful to Bright Horizons for making this possible. The new Bright Space will make the world of difference to the lives of the vulnerable families we support.”
Tracy Wilkes-Green, the Bright Space Manager at the Bright Horizons Foundation said, “This refurbishment reaffirms our commitment to long-term relationships with our Bright Space partners. We want every child, whether they are the first or most recent to walk through the doors, to have a positive experience of their Bright Space. It was made possible by Bright Horizons London & East Division’s exceptional fundraising and the dedication of our Bright Horizons volunteers. We are also grateful to The Fence Club for their generous £1,100 donation, Community Playthings for providing equipment, and our contractors—Pentium, Forbo Flooring, DMC and Linaker for donating labour and materials, all of which made this project possible.”
