Nearly 200 years after our founding, The Carr Fenton Foundation continues to evolve, guided by our heritage, inspired by our community and driven by our belief in opportunity for all.
Our Strategic Plan (2025–2030) sets out a bold vision for the next chapter: a Foundation that leads in specialist education, employability, training and care, invests in people and innovation, and builds a lasting legacy for generations to come.
Our strategy
Our strategic plan will guide us in our work, as we strive to fulfil our vision of a world where every person, regardless of need, can learn, grow and thrive – supported by a community that celebrates difference and champions inclusion.
Over the next five years, we will:
- Strengthen our role as a national leader in Deaf education and SEND specialism, sharing knowledge and shaping best practice.
- Create sustainable, inclusive environments where learning, wellbeing and community thrive side by side.
- Build strategic partnerships across education, business and the third sector, opening more doors for our learners.
- Invest in our people, ensuring every member of staff feels valued, supported and empowered to do their best work.
- Embed innovation and technology into everything we do — enriching teaching, communication and care.
- Grow our financial sustainability, diversifying income to reinvest in services and secure our future.
The plan is built around nine interconnected priorities, each with clear outcomes by 2030.
1. Leadership & Culture
We’re creating a values-driven culture where leadership at all levels is empowering, ethical and collaborative. Our teams will feel supported, inspired and proud to be part of one Foundation.
2. Wellbeing
We’re embedding wellbeing into the heart of our organisation — supporting the physical, mental and emotional health of staff, pupils and clients. A happier, healthier community achieves more together.
3. Specialist Provision
We’ll strengthen and expand our specialist services in Deaf education, SEND and therapy — building a local hub of expertise recognised across the region and beyond.
4. Innovation & Technology
We’ll lead the way in using technology and AI to enhance learning, care and communication. Our goal is to become an industry benchmark for digital inclusion and accessibility.
5. Sustainability
Through our “Together for Tomorrow” approach, we’ll reduce our environmental impact, make our estates more sustainable, and preserve our resources for future generations.
6. Business & Growth
We’ll maintain strong financial foundations, explore new opportunities for social enterprise, and reinvest every surplus into improving the lives of the people we support.
7. Community
We’ll deepen connections with local and national partners, building trust and shared purpose with families, local authorities, employers and community groups.
8. Identity & Impact
We’ll continue to grow the Carr Fenton Foundation identity — strengthening our communications, brand and fundraising activity so our impact is seen, shared and supported.
9. Provision & Place
We’ll invest in learning environments that are high-quality, accessible and future-focused — ensuring every space supports independence, creativity and wellbeing.
By 2030, we aim to be recognised as a leading centre for Deaf and SEND education, where staff feel valued, learners are inspired, and communities are stronger because of what we do.
Our founder, Reverend William Carr Fenton, believed that education could change lives. Two centuries later, that belief still drives us — and with your support, we’ll keep building opportunities for generations to come.