The Fostering Network is proud to have been awarded the Children and Young People Now ‘Children in Care Award’ for our London Fostering Achievement programme, delivered in partnership with Achievement for All.

The Fostering Network is delighted to today be welcoming HRH The Duchess of Cambridge to the 2015 Fostering Excellence Awards to celebrate the role of the fostering community in providing support to children and young people.

The Fostering Network Wales has launched a report into the views of foster carers regarding what they believe is needed to raise the ambitions and educational outcomes of the young people in their care.

The report, entitled What is Needed to Enable Looked After Children to Achieve in Education? was commissioned by Welsh Government and follows consultations and a survey with foster carers carried out by The Fostering Network.

In response to the launch of a consultation on Draft Decision Making Guidance for Foster Carers in Scotland, Sara Lurie, director of The Fostering Network in Scotland, said: ‘We are delighted to see the Scottish Government’s draft decision making guidance, and thank all those who have worked so hard in drafting it.

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge is to present foster care experienced young people with awards at The Fostering Network’s 2015 Fostering Excellence Awards. The awards are being held in London, on Tuesday 17 November.

The Fostering Network in Northern Ireland is bringing a pioneering approach to preventing children who are on the periphery of the care system from being taken into care, and instead supporting them to stay within their own homes.

The Fostering Network welcomes the publication of the Public Accounts Committee’s report into care leavers’ transition to adulthood in England, and in particular their call for the Department of Education to  conduct an early review of Staying Put.

Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: ‘We agree with the committee’s findings that, in too many cases, young people are being let down by the system which is supposed to support them.

The Fostering Network is encouraging young people in care to ‘tick the box’ when completing UCAS forms while applying for university.

A new publication to support young people accessing higher education, Pathways to Further and Higher Education for Looked After and Care Experienced Young People, is being launched this week at The Fostering Network’s annual Tick the Box event which is taking place on Thursday 29 October at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast.

Social enterprise Link Maker has launched Placement Link, a new matching service for local authorities to list children seeking long-term fostering. This will be supported by The Fostering Network, who will provide expert advice and support to foster carers accessing the service.