A short, focused search — run with discipline
The partner search itself was deliberately tight and time-limited, reflecting the financial urgency PACEY was operating under. A solution that all parties agreed to was needed in less than two months. Eastside People supported a small number of targeted conversations with credible organisations that already operated in the children’s and early-years space.
Rather than a broad or speculative process, the emphasis was on quality of alignment, not volume of options. Eastside People acted as an honest broker throughout — structuring conversations, stress-testing assumptions, and helping the Board distinguish between emotional comfort and strategic fit.
Helen reflects on the value of that support:
“What made the difference was having calm, experienced, objective support from Eastside People. When you’re under pressure, you need people who can keep things grounded and help you make decisions you’ll still stand by later.”
Why CORAM emerged as the right partner
Through this process, CORAM emerged as the organisation that best met PACEY’s criteria.
CORAM’s long-standing commitment to children’s wellbeing, its experience in the early years sector and of integrating membership organisations, and its ability to provide strong central infrastructure all aligned with what PACEY needed. Crucially, CORAM was also able to support the continuation of PACEY’s role as a distinctive voice for childminders, rather than absorbing it into a generic children’s offer. Finally CORAM are highly experienced and have a team ready to amalgamate of transfer charities supporting children and young people.
Eastside People supported the Board through the final evaluation and decision-making process, ensuring trustees were clear about both the opportunities and the risks — and confident in the choice they were making.
From decision to delivery
Once the Board selected CORAM, events moved quickly. PACEY was put into Managed Administration where the Administrator was responsible for achieving the best outcome and they were able to transfer PACEY operations to CORAM. CORAM managed the smooth transfer with support from Helen, members of her senior team, and key PACEY Trustees. The involvement of administrators compressed timelines significantly, and the final weeks were intense with CORAM and the PACEY administrator managing the final stages of the transfer process.
One issue highlighted the stakes clearly: the continuity of specialist insurance for childminders. Any failure here would have meant thousands of practitioners being unable to work overnight, with immediate consequences for families and children.
Because the partner search had been well run and roles were clear and Coram has a clear model and criteria, decisions could be taken quickly without confusion or loss of control.
“The last couple of weeks were intense,” Helen recalls. “But the process of managing the merger had been so well organised that we could move at speed. Our members could carry on working the next day — that was the real test.”
Reflections from CORAM
Pacey transferred into CORAM on 1st May 2025 and is now run under the name CORAM Pacey in England and CORAM Pacey Cymru in Wales.
Dr Carol Homden, CEO of CORAM, commented that Eastside People were professional throughout and paid tribute to Helen Donohoe, Pacey CEO and Dr Amy Page Pacey Chair for seeing the smooth transfer of Pacey through. She summed it up by saying:-
“We’ve been delighted to complete this process with Eastside People and take up the baton of Child Minders in England and Wales with CORAM Pacey and CORAM Pacey Cymru. We will continue the mission now we have secured a financially sustainable and resilient future”
What this case study shows
PACEY’s experience illustrates a core lesson of the Good Merger Index: that all good mergers start with good searches.
Key takeaways include:
- Urgency does not excuse poor process — it makes good process essential
- Clarity about mission and red lines enables faster, better decisions
- Independent support helps Boards stay strategic under pressure
- Protecting beneficiary voice must remain the guiding test.
By supporting PACEY to identify a larger charity that could genuinely sustain and strengthen its role as a champion for childminders, Eastside People helped ensure that PACEY’s work continues — not as a legacy, but as a living, active part of the early-years sector.
