ProCare Gloucestershire Services: Helping Children and Young People Build Confidence, Independence and Brighter Futures

Life is about more than getting through the day. It is about being able to make choices, explore interests, belong to a community and develop the confidence to take the next step. For children and young people who need additional support, those opportunities can be especially meaningful. For their families, finding people who listen, understand individual needs and encourage independence matters just as much.

That belief sits at the heart of ProCare Gloucestershire Services, a Gloucester-based organisation providing person-centred support to children, young people and families across Gloucestershire. From everyday life skills to college attendance, community activities and planned short breaks, ProCare aims to help people participate in life on their own terms.

Its guiding message is simple: “Life. Your Way. We’re Here.” Behind those words is an approach shaped by personal goals, dignity, relationships and experiences that matter to the individual. Here is a closer look at the people, values and services behind ProCare—and what families may wish to know when exploring support locally.

A Gloucestershire organisation founded with a clear purpose

ProCare’s story began in December 2019. Founder and managing director Yanina Kotwica had seen, through her professional experience and qualifications, a gap in the support available for children and young people with additional needs in Gloucestershire. Rather than accepting that families would simply have to work around the shortage, she established ProCare Services to offer compassionate, flexible support centred on the person receiving it.

That local origin helps explain the organisation’s direction. The aim is not to fit every individual into an identical timetable or activity list. It is to understand what matters to them, what they already enjoy, where they want to grow and how appropriate support could help. The company's stated values are compassion, respect, integrity and inclusion, while safeguarding and continuous improvement are part of its published commitments.

Families looking at the story and management team behind ProCare can see the people associated with the service, rather than only a list of offerings. That matters in a field where trust develops through communication, consistency and the quality of personal relationships.

What person-centred support means in everyday life

“Person-centred” is an important expression, but it only becomes useful when translated into ordinary situations. One person might want more confidence choosing items in a supermarket. Another might benefit from support getting to college, joining an activity group or attending an appointment. Someone else may want help trying a new hobby in a setting that feels welcoming.

A good starting point is to ask what the individual wants to achieve. Perhaps the immediate goal is enjoying an outing without feeling overwhelmed. Perhaps it is learning the steps of a familiar routine, becoming comfortable with a new environment or building the confidence to spend time with other people. Progress may look different for everyone, and a small step can still be meaningful.

ProCare describes tailoring its support plans to individual goals, preferences and circumstances. Its published service information emphasises helping people take part, make connections and maintain dignity rather than doing everything for them. The most useful support is not necessarily the most complicated: it is support delivered in a way that respects the person and the life they want to lead.

Building independence through community life skills

For many young people, practical independence is built in places that most of us visit without a second thought: shops, cafés, local centres and community spaces. Choosing what to buy, handling a change of plan, speaking to someone new or finding a way around an unfamiliar setting can all create opportunities to learn.

ProCare includes life skills in the community among its core services. Its support workers can accompany individuals on activities such as supermarket visits and shopping-centre trips, encouraging participation at a suitable pace. The purpose is wider than completing an errand. It can be about practising decisions, communication, familiar routines and confidence in everyday situations.

The details should always depend on the person. Some may appreciate support planning an outing in advance; others might prefer encouragement to take the lead while someone trusted remains nearby. Families and support staff can discuss what the individual finds enjoyable, what feels challenging and which goals are realistic for them.

You can explore the organisation's published person-centred support and community services for the full range of activities it describes.

Friendships, shared experiences and feeling part of the community

Connection matters. Being invited to an activity, joining a club, sharing a meal or returning to a favourite place can be part of a fulfilling week. These moments are also opportunities to practise communication, discover preferences and develop relationships beyond familiar daily routines.

ProCare describes support with eating out, social activities, day centres, clubs and groups. That range is important because there is no single version of a good day out. Someone might love a lively group activity; someone else might prefer a quieter setting or a regular visit to a familiar place. The person receiving support should have a meaningful voice in what they do.

The goal is not to collect activities for a timetable. It is to create opportunities for real-life participation and experiences worth looking forward to.

Making education and college participation more accessible

Education involves far more than arriving in a classroom. For some young people, taking part confidently may mean navigating a journey, understanding a timetable, handling written information or feeling comfortable asking a question. The right individualised support can make those routines easier to approach.

ProCare's website explains that its workers can accompany individuals to college, lectures and meetings and provide support with reading, writing and other needs. The organisation's homepage also mentions school runs and college attendance among the activities it supports.

Of course, the support required will vary. It should complement the individual's educational arrangements and be agreed with the young person, their family and the relevant professionals where appropriate. It may involve practical encouragement, continuity around routines or helping someone feel included in an activity they want to attend.

Support for meetings, appointments and important routines

Not every meaningful milestone happens on an exciting day out. Sometimes confidence grows through ordinary responsibilities: preparing for a meeting, attending an appointment or navigating a new service. These experiences can feel more manageable when there is someone alongside you who takes the time to understand your needs.

ProCare lists assistance with medical appointments, meetings and other engagements among its services. Its stated emphasis is on professionalism, dignity and helping people feel comfortable and supported. The form of assistance should be discussed in advance, especially where appointments involve private information, consent or decisions that belong to the individual and their family.

Practical questions can make a real difference: What does the person want help with? Is travel involved? Who should attend? Are there accessibility or communication preferences? Agreeing expectations early supports clarity and a more respectful experience for everyone.

ProCare Centre: activities, enrichment and planned short breaks

Alongside individual support, the organisation operates ProCare Centre, which it presents as a welcoming setting for children across different age groups. The centre works with families and local authorities to offer care, enrichment, activities and positive experiences during selected weekends and school half-term periods.

The ProCare Centre information page describes monthly Saturday respite sessions for different age groups, along with additional Thursday and Friday half-term support, currently advertised from 10am to 3pm. These details are useful as an introduction, but parents and carers should confirm the latest dates, age arrangements, eligibility and availability directly with the team before making plans.

What stands out in the centre's description is its focus on a safe, caring environment where children feel respected and valued. Activities are presented as opportunities for fun, learning, confidence and new experiences. For families exploring short-break support, it can be helpful to talk not just about times and places, but also about how a child settles into unfamiliar surroundings and how their preferences will be understood.

Questions worth discussing include staffing arrangements, the child's communication needs, how individual support is planned, what happens during a session and how families receive updates. Clear answers help parents make informed decisions and allow staff to understand what a positive experience could look like for that particular child.

The team and the importance of trust

Support services are built through people. A reassuring conversation, careful preparation and a familiar face can all influence how someone feels about trying something new. Although no organisation can promise a particular outcome for every individual, families can reasonably look for openness, consistency, safeguarding awareness and a willingness to adapt.

ProCare states that its support workers are trained, DBS checked and reference verified. Its website also identifies the people in management: Yanina Kotwica as managing director, Camille as registered manager, Josh as deputy manager and Aimee as admin assistant. The ProCare Centre page additionally introduces Faith, a senior support worker, as part of the centre team. Job titles and staffing may change, so current responsibilities can be confirmed when enquiring.

ProCare's published values—compassion, respect, integrity and inclusion—offer a useful framework for those discussions. Families can ask how those values appear in everyday decisions, what safeguarding processes apply and how feedback or concerns are handled. It is reasonable to want both warmth and clear professional standards.

The role of families, carers and individual choice

A support arrangement can work best when the person receiving it is heard and the people important to them are included appropriately. Parents and carers may bring essential knowledge about preferences, routines and previous experiences, while the young person's own interests should remain central to planning wherever possible.

Regular conversations can help families and providers understand what is going well and what should change. Circumstances, confidence and interests develop over time. A flexible approach recognises that yesterday's plan may need adjusting tomorrow—and that the individual should continue to have a say.

An initial conversation may also reveal details that a standard enquiry form does not capture: a preference for quieter places, extra time to process information, particular interests, or the reassurance of a predictable routine. None of these preferences should be assumed from a diagnosis or age. They are reasons to listen carefully. Asking what a young person enjoys, what a successful day looks like and how they prefer to communicate can help everyone work towards practical, respectful goals. Families may find it useful to revisit the plan regularly, especially when school, friendships, routines or personal ambitions change. This gives everyone a shared starting point for discussing what works and what needs adjusting.

A local focus with real relevance for Gloucestershire

ProCare is based in Quedgeley, Gloucester, and describes supporting children, young people and families across Gloucestershire. That location matters for families who want practical local knowledge and support connected to the places where daily life happens: schools, colleges, shopping areas, community venues and familiar routes.

For families beginning their search, it can help to use specific questions: What kind of support is offered? Which age groups are suitable? Can the team discuss additional needs and preferences? How are sessions planned? What is the enquiry process? A provider's ability to answer openly is more valuable than a broad promise that every service will fit everyone.

Working at ProCare: care as a purposeful career

Families are not the only people who may be interested in ProCare's story. The organisation also invites applications from people who want to support children and young people in home, education and community settings.

Its careers page describes meaningful work, team support, learning opportunities and different working patterns. It mentions tailored one-to-one and two-to-one support, mentoring, engagement and practical life-skills work as examples of what roles may involve. Prospective applicants can check current vacancies, requirements and how to send a CV with the organisation directly.

The qualities it highlights—patience, reliability, professionalism and a willingness to learn—reflect the human side of this work. Strong support depends not just on a list of qualifications, but on how staff communicate, respond and build trust in everyday situations.

How to explore support with ProCare

If you're a parent, carer, young person or professional considering support in Gloucester or elsewhere in Gloucestershire, the most useful next step is a conversation rather than an assumption. Explain who needs support, the kinds of activities involved, what they already enjoy and any practical details that are important to their comfort and safety.

Ask about current availability, suitability, assessment or referral processes, staffing, safeguarding, the way support is planned and how costs or funding arrangements work. These are general questions to help you make an informed decision; specific answers must come from the provider. If you're interested in short breaks at ProCare Centre, ask about upcoming sessions and any eligibility requirements before arranging attendance.

ProCare Gloucestershire Services Ltd lists its address as 10 Sabre Close, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 4NZ. The telephone number displayed prominently on its homepage is 01452 764057, and the enquiry email is info@procareservices.co.uk. Please verify details directly with the organisation when making arrangements.

Questions families often ask

Is ProCare a residential care home?

Its current website primarily presents person-centred support for children and young people, community activities, educational participation and ProCare Centre short-break sessions. It should not be described as a residential care home without separate evidence. Ask the organisation which specific services it currently provides.

Does ProCare only support children under eight?

No single age cut-off should be assumed. The ProCare Centre website describes sessions for children both under and above eight, with activities for different age groups. Contact the team to confirm the current age arrangements and whether a particular service is suitable.

Does ProCare support going to college or taking part in community activities?

Those are among the services it publicly describes. Its website mentions college attendance, lectures, meetings, shopping, eating out, clubs, groups and community experiences. Actual support is discussed according to the individual's needs and arrangements.

Are short-break sessions available every weekend?

Do not assume so. The centre's published information refers to monthly Saturday respite sessions and some half-term support. Dates and places may change, so availability should always be checked with the team.

What should I prepare before contacting ProCare?

It may help to note the individual's interests, support goals, preferences, routines, relevant access needs and any dates or activities you have in mind. The team can then explain whether its services could be appropriate and what the next steps would be.

Life, your way: why the little moments matter

A shopping trip, a college day, a shared meal, an appointment or a new club may look ordinary from the outside. For the person taking part, it may represent confidence, choice, enjoyment or a step towards something bigger. For a family, seeing a young person listened to and encouraged can be just as important as the activity itself.

That is the story ProCare Gloucestershire Services sets out to tell: thoughtful, local support that treats people as individuals and makes room for real experiences. Founded to respond to a recognised need in Gloucestershire, the organisation continues to focus its message on compassion, independence, inclusion and meaningful everyday life.