TWO special educational needs charities based in the Stroud district have joined forces.

The Novalis Trust and William Morris College have announced that they have completed a merger of the two organisations.

Both organisations are involved in the provision of care and education to children and adults with special educational needs.

The Novalis Trust operates Cotswold Chine School (a children’s home and residential special school in Box, near Stroud, for children with complex learning needs) along with a residential care home for adults with learning difficulties called Paradise House.

William Morris College is a specialist college near Eastington which promotes work-related learning and independence for students with learning difficulties aged 16-25.

The announcement follows several months of discussions during which Novalis Trust managers have been providing William Morris College staff and students with additional management support.

The combined charity will employ 290 staff and will be able to provide residential and day placements for up to 140 young people and adults with a variety of complex needs.

Cotswold Chine School, Paradise House and William Morris College will each retain their names and distinctive identities, but following the merger, William Morris College will come under the Novalis umbrella and will be supported by the Trust’s clinical therapy, training, IT, maintenance and management teams from the charity’s headquarters at Ebley House in Stroud.

William Morris College Chair of Trustees, Graham Barton has joined the Novalis board of trustees, which will continue to oversee the combined organisation, working with Jake Lukas (Chief Executive of Novalis Trust) and the other members of the Novalis management team.

The merger, which completed on July 31, comes on the back of a successful year for Novalis Trust, with both Cotswold Chine School and Paradise House recently being rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and CQC respectively for the quality of care they provide.

Gordon Cole, Novalis Trust Chair of Trustees said: “Novalis Trust and William Morris College share very similar values and objectives and we are confident that the merger will bring substantial benefits for the existing and future stakeholders of both charities.

"William Morris College is an excellent organisation with a proud history of making a positive difference to young people's lives and we look forward to welcoming and working alongside their staff and students."

Graham Barton, William Morris College Chair of Trustees said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with Novalis Trust, which has well deserved reputation for leading the way in the education and care of vulnerable children and adults with complex needs.

"Not only will the merger enable our staff and students to benefit from the skills and experience of the Novalis team, but becoming part of a larger organisation will also place William Morris College on a much more secure financial footing in the years ahead.

"It marks the start of an exciting new chapter in our history."