Dear Families,

It is with a heavy heart, that we share the news that the Beams Direct Payment Service will be closing on 31st March 2025. From 1st April 2025, Kent County Council will be transitioning this contract to a new corporate provider. This means that our team will be transferring support for over 1,000 families accessing a Social Care Direct Payment and more than 100 families receiving an Education Personal Budget to the new service provider.

Since April 2007, Beams has supported approximately 3,800 families, guiding them through the complexities of Direct Payments and Education Personal Budgets. What started as a small service with just two dedicated team members has grown into a fully developed support system with a team of thirteen, ensuring that families received the care, advice, and expertise they needed.

We have always been deeply moved by the feedback from families, reflecting the impact our service has had:

“I have always had excellent support from We Are Beams.”
“You have been so incredibly helpful.”
“Thank you for your amazing help.”
“Thank you so much for all you’ve done for our family.”

For all of us on the Beams Direct Payment Team, working here has been more than just a job—it has been a privilege. The relationships we have built with families, professionals, colleagues have been incredibly meaningful, and though our work has been busy and challenging, it has been deeply rewarding.

Being part of this incredible charity has been an honour, and we sincerely wish all the families we have supported—past and present—the very best for the future. We also encourage you to continue making use of Beams’ other services, which remain available to support families in different ways. Your continued engagement will help ensure that Beams remains a source of strength and guidance for years to come.

On behalf of myself, Tracy, as your Direct Payment Service Manager, and the entire Direct Payment Team—Carla, Cassie, Deborah, Denise, Jo, Lianne, Maddie, Michael, Paula, Sara, Simone, and Sophie—we want to express our heartfelt gratitude. We hope this is not a final goodbye, but rather a “see you again” in the future.

With our warmest wishes and deepest thanks,

The Beams Direct Payment Team