News

Zoe Witherington first became involved with The Fostering Network in 2013 to support our Don’t Move Me campaign. During the campaign Zoe, between her studies, campaigned hard appearing in newspapers, on television, and on radio right across England sharing her story in the hope of creating a more positive future for other children and young people.

The Fostering Network warmly welcomes the publication of Lord Laming’s independent review of children in care’s involvement in the criminal justice system in England and Wales. We agree that ‘aiming to reduce the disproportionate number of young people who are, or have been, in public care progressing into custody’ is laudable, and we believe that, if implemented, the recommendations made within the report will make a positive difference to the lives of children in care.

A steadfast determination to care is one of the reasons why Glen and Regina Mahon from Downpatrick, County Down, who have been fostering for 15 years, were awarded The Fostering Network in Northern Ireland’s 2016 Foster Carer of the Year Award, sponsored by The Hilton, on Friday 20 May at the Hilton Hotel, Belfast. 

In response to the Queen’s Speech, Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: ‘While The Fostering Network welcomes the Prime Minister’s self-declared “unashamedly pro-adoption” stance, and his subsequent backing of this stance in his Government’s legislative agenda as set out in the Queen’s Speech, we ask the Government to understand that adoption and foster care are not mutually exclusive.

Foster carers and staff from all fostering providers in Northern Ireland came together for this annual event, and foster carers were given the opportunity to take part in a variety of workshops that ranged from yoga to study skills, and a whole lot more in between. 

You don’t have to be a good cook to foster, revealed children and young people in foster care as part of a new survey conducted by The Fostering Network to mark the start of Foster Care Fortnight 2016 (16-29 May). 

Instead the overwhelming call was for foster carers who can provide them with security, support and love.

Foster carers are invited to click on the link on the time they can take part and register for a place:

13 September 2023 at 10.30am - Book a place on this tax and national insurance webinar here.  

13 November 2023 at 7.30pm - Book a place on this tax and national insurance webinar here.  

The Fostering Network welcomes the findings of The House of Commons Education Select Committee's recent report, Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Looked After Children. The report highlights the fact that looked after children are four times more likely than their peers in the general population to experience mental health problems but that they face a number of challenges in accessing the appropriate mental health support.

The annual Fostering Excellence Awards take place in autumn and they shine a spotlight on the young people, foster carers, social workers and others who make a positive contribution to fostering.

You can nominate someone who you consider to have made an outstanding contribution to foster carer in the following categories: