On the eighth day of the eighth month (8 August) staff from Dreams, the leading bed specialist, embarked on an 88-mile cycle trip; stopping at eight Dreams stores along the way in a bid to raise £8,888.88 for The Fostering Network.

Why all the eights? Dreams are currently encouraging people to renew their mattresses every eight years.

The Fostering Network welcomes the communities and local government select committee report into homelessness, and their recommendation for Government to consider reviewing the transition to independence for care leavers.

The Fostering Network has launched our bi-annual State of the Nation survey which seeks to gather the views of foster carers regarding a range of issues affecting fostering across the UK.

As well as developing key themes from the 2014 State of the Nation report, this year's survey focuses on a number of issues such as:

The Fostering Network is delighted to have been chosen as Sainsbury’s Local Charity of the Year by the Blackfriars Road branch of Sainsbury’s Local.

Tony Round, head of fundraising at The Fostering Network, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for The Fostering Network to partner with our local Sainsbury’s store. It shows the impact that our charity makes the community surrounding our London office and we hope that the people of Southwark will continue to support us over the next year.”

In response to a BBC article about foster carers being offered cash incentives to move between fostering providers, Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: 'The Fostering Network has transfer protocols which guide the way in which fostering services should manage the movement of foster carers between fostering services, and which have support from across the fostering sector.

Education Minister, Peter Weir, has today visited a Fostering Achievement Primary Summer Scheme in Newtownards, County Down, run by Northern Ireland’s leading fostering charity The Fostering Network, where he met foster carers and children and young people in foster care.

The Fostering Network is delighted that the upcoming Fostering Excellence Awards, which celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement in fostering, will be supported by Dreams, Britain’s leading bed specialist.

We are delighted to announce that The Fostering Network, as the UK’s leading fostering charity, has become an official conference partner for the IFCO European Conference taking place from 1 to 4 September 2016.

The Fostering Network has today launched its new guide for foster carers on supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children. The guide, which is relevant UK-wide and is suitable for foster carers who are new to caring for unaccompanied asylum seeking children or who have been doing so for some time, is available to download as an eBook for £2 each or £20 for 20. Printed versions of the guide can also be arranged on request.

The Fostering Network welcomes the publication of the Care Quality Commission’s report, Not Seen, Not Heard. The report is based on the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) review of the health care aspects of children’s services in England, and in particular how health services in a local authority area work together to provide early help to children in need and how they improve the health and wellbeing of looked after children.