Who We Are

Brightview Farm is the ambition of Kate Foxton and Jo Bucknell to address many of the challenges that they have faced, both personally, and as parents of vulnerable young children in a landscape of inequality and despair in a school system that is struggling to cope with young people that do not fit the standard school model.

Our vision of creating a charity-based alternative provision service comes at a timely moment to help many families, schools and local areas in need. 

We want to provide a ‘positive experience’ for children, young people and their families and aim for a positive outcome that re-integrates them back into either the school system or society with a better outlook. 

With more investment from government forecasts in this sector, a charitable provision service should ensure the needs of those it supports are met, as funds can be reinvested back into evolving the services Brightview Farm is able to offer.

Jean has a long history of working with vulnerable young people in an alternative setting. She is the CEO of Lorica Trust, a West Sussex charity specialising in landbased Alternative Provision for young people aged between 5 – 18.

When the opportunity arose to support Brightview, Jean jumped at the chance. 

“It’s a real privilege to be asked to work alongside Kate, Jo and Kim, their aspirations for Brightview are well-founded and very much needed. 

I’m looking forward to seeing the charity go from strength to strength, and for the community to benefit from their vision, aspiration, and passion at giving vulnerable young people the support, time, and belief they all deserve within a unique and exciting land-based setting – just perfect”

Dorli has been involved with this project from the point at which Kate and Jo started looking for a site. She has a history of building design and planning and therefore worked on the planning application for the site. 

Dorli has personal experience with young people with additional needs and has been on the board of Governors for a special needs school and children’s home. She has a smallholding, including goats and ponies, and hopes to be onsite in a voluntary capacity.

Cassie lives in Stebbing and has worked in financial services for a top-tier investment bank for over 25 years. She has a small team in London and India. She spent 3 years being the Chair of the PTA in our local Primary School, where she successfully raised a large amount of money for the school.

She feels these roles taught, and continue to teach her about organisation, planning, being a team player and taking responsibility. She is also a mum, so understands the challenges that can be faced in family life. She is therefore looking forward to being part of the Brightview Farm team and contributing to making it great.