Specialist care organisation soars their high-quality care with financial boost
- Marta Macialek
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
Woodleigh Healthcare is led by a highly experienced team. Managing Director Bernadette Charehwa has over 20 years of expertise in Health and Social Care and holds three related degrees.
Finance and Operations Director, Irvine Madimu, ensures financial and operational stability.
And Quality Assurance and Compliance Director, Ndaba Mnkandla, is an expert in quality, health and safety.
£150,000 boost towards:
Payroll cashflow
Expansion initiatives
Region: Leicestershire
What does your business do and how is it different from competitors?
Our main domain is working with young people with autism and learning disabilities. We have clients that we look after with complex behaviours, and groups in supported living houses who get support with their disabilities. We offer compassion for the individuals and their families, building relationships, looking at each case individually to foster independence and well-being.
We also do assessments where we ask, “What is it the person likes doing?” but you find that people will be anxious, wanting to share their challenges. We discovered that you know more about challenges, but you forget the good. So those small changes make a difference in the people we support.
How did the funding help the business?
The funding helped us mainly around cash flow. We needed it to support international recruitment at a high skill. There’s a certain type of care worker that we need to support the type of people we look after, so this went towards training as well and the properties for the supported living that we utilise.
What advice would you give to businesses looking for financial support?
Rather than suffer in silence, there are many amazing organisations out there that can actually get to understand your vision, your plan, and sit down with you to guide you through the process of where you can access financial assistance. It’s just tapping into that unknown source that exists out there.
How was your experience with your First Enterprise Advisor?
The result from the visit of just coming out to see us meant a lot, because sometimes you feel judged. But some things were not making sense with our financials so it’s about the approach, that’s what yielded the results for us.
Even if we had not gotten the money, just someone having the respect of coming out, I think this is what I sing about to other providers, that these are people who don’t judge you. They want to understand the why.
Comments from the Directors of Woodleigh Healthcare and more:
"I truly appreciated our Investment Manager, Shaun, taking the time to meet us in person and understand our care model. Being able to discuss industry challenges and their impact on our services was humbling. The loan came at a crucial time, providing much-needed financial relief and allowing us to continue delivering essential care."
Comments Bernadette Charehwa, Managing Director
"This loan connected us with a funding partner who truly understands our business and supports our vision for growth. Lendoe played a key role in introducing us to First Enterprise, and their support has been invaluable. Since 2018, Lendoe has helped us access the right funding solutions, and we are grateful to First Enterprise for providing the financial backing that allows us to continue making a difference in our community."
Comments Irvine Madimu, Finance and Operations Director
"The funding enabled us to grow strategically and strengthen our operational model. Having a partner who truly understands our approach made a significant difference, allowing us to focus on delivering high-quality care while enhancing both our services and efficiency."
Comments Ndaba Mnkandla, Quality Assurance and Compliance Director
"We are delighted to support Woodleigh Healthcare, a vital social care provider. Faced with costly short-term funding challenges, they remained committed to delivering essential services. Through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II (MEIF II), we provided a tailored, long-term solution to support their growth.
Many businesses are unaware of the transformative support Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) like First Enterprise offer, and we’re proud to help Woodleigh overcome financial hurdles and thrive. We look forward to seeing their continued success and impact in the community."
Comments Shaun Tuhey, Investment Manager at First Enterprise
Trei Reid, Funding Team at Lendoe, comments: “Woodleigh Healthcare contributes significantly to the UK economy, generating hundreds of jobs and adding millions to GDP each year. We were delighted to support their growth by helping them secure affordable, long-term financing through First Enterprises’ financial offerings.”
First Enterprise is a responsible finance provider offering unsecured loans ranging from £500 to £250,000 to support both start-ups and established businesses across the UK. Since 2011, First Enterprise has lent over £77 million to 7,305 businesses.
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