Media releases

Following the Westminster Government’s statement about the safeguarding of unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children, Kevin Williams, chief executive at The Fostering Network, said: ‘The Government’s reiteration of its commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children along with its announcement of a strategy setting out how unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children should be safeguarded is welcome.

Reclaimcare.co.uk , a meme generator tackling some of the stigma surrounding being in care, which was developed as part of The Fostering Network’s Inspiring Voices project, has been commended in two categories in the Scottish Creative Awards.

The Fostering Network Northern Ireland welcomes the assertion in the Health and Wellbeing 2026 report, which was launched by Health Minister Michelle O'Neill today, that the Northern Ireland Government will ‘honour our corporate parenting responsibilities to the fullest extent and will be as ambitious for children in care as we are for our own children.’

The Fostering Network Northern Ireland is today highlighting the fact that care experienced young people are in danger of missing out on the chance of individualised support while at university, as the charity launches its annual Tick the Box awareness campaign today in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast.

By making sure they ‘Tick the Box’ on their UCAS or Further Education application form saying they are care experienced, care leavers can access a range of additional support varying from financial support to help with student accommodation. 

Social enterprise Link Maker has launched a new national platform for the commissioning of care placements for all children.

Link Maker was formed in 2014 by adoptive parents, and the website was initially launched for adoption. It is now responsible for the majority of inter-agency adoptive placements across the UK, and is used by nearly every local authority and independent agency.

As the UK begins to welcome unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people, The Fostering Network is re-issuing its call for more people with the right skills and experience to come forward to foster.

In response to the announcement by the National Assembly for Wales's Llywydd, Elin Jones AM, of her intention to establish a youth parliament, Dr Emily Warren, director of The Fostering Network Wales, said: 'We are delighted to welcome the Llywydd's announcement to establish a long-called for youth parliament for Wales.

The Fostering Network Scotland has been awarded nearly £150,000 by the Big Lottery Fund for its two-year Walking Tall project which will improve the lives of children in foster care and the sons and daughters of foster carers.

Responding to the announcement at the SNP conference by First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon of a root and branch review of the care system, Sara Lurie, director of The Fostering Network Scotland, said:

‘Maybe I’m not as broken as I’ve sometimes felt’ are the heartfelt words of 18-year-old Johnny reflecting on his experiences of foster care.