1. Bespoke Guardians was started in 2019. Our CEO, Rob Firmin came across families with children who needed specialist support and after some detailed research and planning launched Bespoke Guardians. Rob realised this was a niche market and many existing services in the UK did not have the training or expertise to support young people and children with a history of trauma and challenging behaviour.
2. We have supported numerous children, under the age of 18, across the UK and continue to grow our relationships with commissioning services.
3. We have been awarded the Bronze Award by the Armed Forces Covenant’s Employer Recognition Scheme, recognising our commitment to the armed forces. Many of our employees are ex-forces personnel and bring dedication, determination and teamwork skills to the roles they have with Bespoke Guardians.
4. We offer one of the most in-depth induction programmes in the sector. We welcome new employees from a wide range of backgrounds and aim to ensure they are confident in our approach and have passed safety standards along with gaining a full understanding of the experiences our young people may have faced and our role in helping them reach their goals for the future.
5. In addition to Bespoke Guardians’ service, we have a range of other businesses within the Guardians Group which includes our own training company. We can tailor our internal training offering to suit the required skills and knowledge our employees need. We can also offer training externally to other businesses. Check out ‘Guardians Training’ on LinkedIn!
6. We built our own app to provide our teams with everything they need on shift. This makes it easy for us to gather information and the teams to communicate without needing specific devices. A mobile phone can be used in place of a tablet or laptop which is perfect when our teams are out and about with the young people or changing locations and need to be able to provide updates securely and instantly.
7. Our teams are experienced in setting up packages within two hours of the referral. We source accommodation, provide transport, arrange everything the young person may need and despatch our teams to be ready and on site for the young person who may be leaving custody, experiencing a breakdown in their existing care package or placement, or being discharged from hospital. We understand how scary and unsettling these events can be for young people and we aim to give them a feeling of safety and stability from day one.
8. We encourage the young people we support to follow their dreams and take part in activities that might not have been possible before. One young person recorded a rap at a music studio, another got to meet their ice hockey heros – thanks to the Swindon Wildcats. Other children have overcome their own anxieties to take place in national charity fund raising events or have learned they have a passion for cooking and baking.
9. Bespoke Guardians is the Title Sponsor of the Swindon Wildcats Ice Hockey Team. You can even spot some of the Wildcat stars acting as young people in some of our videos and social media content.
10. Our teams go the extra mile to help children discover their potential and introduce them to new possibilities. Our teams have mentored, helped and encouraged a young person to successfully complete a powerboat course and gaining a licence to operate a small boat. A great achievement for him and our team. #DoingWhatOthersWon’t.
