Blogs
County lines is becoming an increasing problem within the UK and vulnerable children, including fostered children, are being exploited across towns and cities. Here you can read more about it.
When Henry's family started to foster he was only seven years old. Even though, at that age, he didn't quite comprehend what fostering was, he quickly learned how it was helping the children his family was caring for. Now 18, Henry works for his local authority as an ambassador for children and young people and recently won one of our Fostering Excellence Awards for his outstanding contribution to foster care.
We all know that postcodes can be pivotal when it comes to the provision of public services. The area you live in can affect your access to healthcare, leisure opportunities, your insurance prices, and more. In Scotland it also affects how much money is spent on children in care. Sara Lurie, director of The Fostering Network in Scotland, explains the situation and what can be done to change it.
When you have looked after over 100 children during 30 years as foster carers, retiring from fostering is a significant change. Eileen and Ian became foster carers almost three decades ago, now they are in their eighties and ready to settle down. Here, the couple share their experiences and give some wise advice: ‘You can’t change things over night. Slow down and enjoy what you have.’
Last week the Children’s Minister in England wrote to all English local authorities asking them to prioritise adoption as the best long-term option for looked after children. This blog from our chief executive, Kevin Williams, explains why we came out so firmly against the letter.
On behalf of The Fostering Network may I wish you a very peaceful and happy 2020, and thank you for all that you do every day for children and young people living in foster care. Thank you too for working alongside us as together we seek to make foster care the very best it can be for fostered children and young people and the families caring for them.
2019 has been fundraising-tastic here at The Fostering Network! It’s been brilliant to work with many of you on your fundraising journeys – we are extremely grateful to you for raising as much as you can so that we can support those who foster and the children in their care. If you also want to support us this Christmas, please read on.
Last week Ofsted, the organisation responsible for inspecting fostering services and local authorities in England, released their annual data relating to English fostering. As always, there is a lot to take note of in the data, so below are nine things we think are worth highlighting:
