An important message from our CEO

With genuine sadness, I must announce that, after extensive deliberation, the Board of Trustees and charity leadership group have made the difficult decision to close our Mulberry Bush Third Space (MB3), including the Planned Environment Therapy Archives and Special Collections. 

One of our most important responsibilities as a charity is to regularly review our financial commitments, ensure that we have a sustainable financial model and that our resources are directed to where they can have the greatest impact. After careful assessment, we have concluded that, while the Third Space offers significant charitable impact and value to the individuals and sectors it serves, the ongoing costs of maintaining and running the site and its services have become unsustainable for the Mulberry Bush. As a result, operations at the Mulberry Bush Third Space will end, and the site will close permanently as of 31st May 2026. 

This decision was not made lightly. We have thoroughly explored a range of alternatives but were ultimately unable to identify a viable way to continue supporting the Third Space within our current financial framework. 

Since opening in 2018, the Mulberry Bush Third Space has contributed enormously to our charitable mission, expanding our reach and impact. Our investment in both the site and the Archives—modernising facilities and improving the condition and accessibility of collections—has enabled academics, professionals, and a broad community of stakeholders to benefit from these invaluable resources. The archive’s work, including pioneering the practice of ‘trauma-informed archives,’ has been particularly well received nationally and has provided new insight into both archival practice and the history of therapeutic community and planned environment therapy movements. 

We are sincerely grateful to everyone involved in making the Third Space such a vibrant and impactful part of our charity, and to those who have contributed to the Archive’s development and success. 

Looking ahead, a key focus over the coming months will be supporting our highly regarded staff team whilst safeguarding the future of the Archives, library, and artefacts. We will ensure that the Mulberry Bush collection—including files of former pupils—remains carefully preserved and accessible. Equally, we continue to work to find solutions, ensuring as many collections as possible remain available to provide learning for those interested in therapeutic communities and planned environment therapy. 

We’re aware of the potential impact this may have on individuals and organisations. Should you wish to discuss this further, you can contact our Head of Learning and Research, Dr Dave Roberts ([email protected]).   

Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support during this transition. We remain committed to our charitable aims and to honouring the legacy and value of the Mulberry Bush Third Space and its collections. 

 John Turberville, Chief Executive Officer 

Should you wish to see a copy of the ‘Archives Closure Strategy’, please fill in the form below: