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Blogs

Turning the Tide against online child abuse

Turning the Tide against online child abuse

EDUCATION, thoroughly researched by those such as ourselves, is essential. We focus on critical thinking and s...
Spotlight Emdad Rahman   An adventure with hope

Spotlight Emdad Rahman An adventure with hope

Emdad Rahman is a serial volunteer at the forefront of his community for many years. Every day, he gives his ...
Five Books That Belong on Your Shelf

Five Books That Belong on Your Shelf

Book Corner Five Books That Belong on Your Shelf Our top five book recommendations in this issue come from...
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Nov 27, 2023
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Health and Lifestyle

Health and Lifestyle

  The Baton of Hope UK was created by two amazing fathers, Mike McCarthy and Steve Phillip, who both v...
 What to watch spring 2023

What to watch spring 2023

Happy New Year How has the start of everyone's 2023 been? Apart from cold and wet! We live down South,...
Experiences From Care Leavers Becoming Me.

Experiences From Care Leavers Becoming Me.

The first three years of my life were pretty normal. From the outside, things looked great: my parents had a c...
Why Young People Get Involved

Why Young People Get Involved

"Where are we?" my friend Laura asked as we looked at the map.   The answer to that was l...
Reflections on the government's response to the care review.

Reflections on the government's response to the care review.

NAFP Statement on Children's Social Care Implementation Strategy – + published 2 Feb 2023   ...
Protected Characteristics Will Happen: Its just A Case of when

Protected Characteristics Will Happen: Its just A Case of when

These corporate parenting principles are embedded within every local authority. They must convene composite pa...
A Better Way To Resolve The National retention Crisis

A Better Way To Resolve The National retention Crisis

Most people are disappointed with the Care Review. For some, it's the amount of money the government has c...
 Navigating the Expectations of Fostering: A Journey of Love and Growth

Navigating the Expectations of Fostering: A Journey of Love and Growth

When my partner and I made the life-changing decision to become respite foster carers, we were filled with a m...
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Jun 26, 2023
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The Impact of Neglect on Child Development in the UK

The Impact of Neglect on Child Development in the UK

Childhood is an important time for development, learning, and emotional growth. However, neglect can have a hu...
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May 30, 2023
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Child of an Addict

Child of an Addict

But my story breaks statistics and challenges what we think we know. Introducing my mother: a well presented w...
OFF THE STREET: Supporting Families In Romania by Suzie Marsden

OFF THE STREET: Supporting Families In Romania by Suzie Marsden

Back in 1995 there were significant numbers of children living on the streets of Romania. Many lived undergrou...
Have I failed as foster parent? by Peter Langdown

Have I failed as foster parent? by Peter Langdown

Inevitably as a long-standing foster parent, we will reach a point in our career where we feel we have failed ...
Birmingham 2022: A Learning Experience For The Next Generation - By Dannielle Brown

Birmingham 2022: A Learning Experience For The Next Generation - By Dannielle Brown

At the start of my sports career, others saw my potential long before I did. Two club coaches, Ian and Renee M...
Hosting Ukrainian Guests

Hosting Ukrainian Guests

At Christmas we decided we would convert one of our -spare bedrooms into a guest accommodation space and let i...
Are Foster Carers Forgotten About?

Are Foster Carers Forgotten About?

Foster carers are the most forgotten people in the fostering care system. They are lied to, used, and new er t...
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Nov 01, 2022
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CARE LEAVER LOCAL OFFER: 1 YEAR ON

CARE LEAVER LOCAL OFFER: 1 YEAR ON

The Care Leaver Local Offer website has been up and running for a year now. It would be great to hear about ho...
Healing through my story by: Mathew Page

Healing through my story by: Mathew Page

I was born in Bromley in 1972 and placed in care three years later to a white family in Kent. They already had...
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Oct 10, 2022
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Finding the right words in difficult times my top three book recommendations By Zoe Ash.

Finding the right words in difficult times my top three book recommendations By Zoe Ash.

I“d heard of people framing notes of money or holding on to receipts as memorabilia when starting a new ...
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Oct 07, 2022
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INSIDERS OUTSIDERS: The Hidden Narratives of Care Experienced Social Workers.

INSIDERS OUTSIDERS: The Hidden Narratives of Care Experienced Social Workers.

Where did the idea for Insiders Outsiders come from and how you did you get started? Before the pandemic I ...
When I Was Little...

When I Was Little...

When I was little, my Granddad used to tell me stories about an adventurous rabbit called William. William alw...
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Jul 28, 2022
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Hey Miss

Hey Miss

Hey Miss, will you ever notice what's going on, because you come to our house, you're here five minute...
A Day In The Life Of A Social Worker

A Day In The Life Of A Social Worker

What inspired you to become a social worker? Initially it was because I wanted to understand my own journey...
Whitney's Story: A Passion Worth Fighting For

Whitney's Story: A Passion Worth Fighting For

Whitney Clark and her twin sister are the oldest of eight children. From the day they were born, social servic...
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Jul 06, 2022
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Getting the most out of education and beyond

Getting the most out of education and beyond

Lagislation over the years has been written to ensure mainstream schools are more welcoming and accessible ...
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Jul 02, 2022
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Painful Potatoes

Painful Potatoes

I was crying over potatoes. It was November 3rd. I was standing, shoulders slumped and shaking in the veg s...
From Education to Educator

From Education to Educator

When I was first asked to write something, my impulsiveness kicked in. 'YES! I said. "I'll write ...
A Time To Reflect

A Time To Reflect

Sunday 19th June is Father's Day - a time to reflect on being a father, or a father figure such as a foste...
Experiences from Foster Carers -The Cost of Living Crisis in the Care Sector

Experiences from Foster Carers -The Cost of Living Crisis in the Care Sector

Listening to Martin Lewis close to tears as he tries to help families around the country survive feels surreal...
What is Going On- Checking In With Children During Uncertain Times.

What is Going On- Checking In With Children During Uncertain Times.

In the last few years with the pandemic, everyone's been through a time of unseen threat and uncertainty -...
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Jun 15, 2022
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Safeguarding Respite Care: Balancing Competing

Safeguarding Respite Care: Balancing Competing

When I was very young, I spent a couple of years with a foster carer couple who made the other foster child an...
Beyond statistics and stereotypes: Takeaways from research with adult-care leavers

Beyond statistics and stereotypes: Takeaways from research with adult-care leavers

In this article, I want to share with you a very important finding from my research with adults who grew up in...
10 signs a setting or professional really is trauma-informed

10 signs a setting or professional really is trauma-informed

You may be a bit weary of being told that a setting, therapist, or other professional is trauma-informed, only...
Why is Art Important for Healing?

Why is Art Important for Healing?

Firstly, art reinforces the importance of relaxation prior to beginning any verbal processing or art related a...
Reuniting Siblings in Care

Reuniting Siblings in Care

Out of all the looked after children in the care system today, it is estimated that more than half will have a...
Warrington Youth Club

Warrington Youth Club

Youth Clubs make an incredible difference to the lives of young people and their communities. We are shining a...
Why Foster Carers are so Important to Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children & Child Refugees

Why Foster Carers are so Important to Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children & Child Refugees

The vast majority of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children who come into the care of Local Authorities will ha...
One Hundred Reasons to Hope

One Hundred Reasons to Hope

The pandemic cast a long shadow over the world, but one of the most beautiful things to come from this terribl...
THE CHRISTMAS CARE EXPERIENCE IN THE 1960S By David Jackson

THE CHRISTMAS CARE EXPERIENCE IN THE 1960S By David Jackson

We were never part of ‘Brand’ Christmas. From miserable homes lacking in festive decoration, to th...
Kindness  By Post

Kindness By Post

The Mental Health Collective wanted to find a new way to bring people together, and they came up with the idea...
How The Paralympics Is Breaking Down Barriers To Disability Equality

How The Paralympics Is Breaking Down Barriers To Disability Equality

The misconceptions that come with this word vary, and it’s fair to say that every disabled person has be...
PROVIDING A PLACE TO BELONG: Why Communication For Children In Care Is Key

PROVIDING A PLACE TO BELONG: Why Communication For Children In Care Is Key

Fostering Families caught up with Mike McKenzie and Carol Hamilton, who have been fostering since 2007. We w...
What to Watch?

What to Watch?

STEVEN, iTV One of the biggest and most talked about things to watch happening right now is the ITV drama S...
Things Foster Carers Need to Know

Things Foster Carers Need to Know

Henrietta Bond is the author of Things Foster Carers Need to Know, Coram BAAF’s new collection of pamphl...
What comes next: Levelling : The Playing Field For Care Leavers

What comes next: Levelling : The Playing Field For Care Leavers

The Fostering Families team caught up with Terry Galloway, who is determined to make sure that young people ha...
Using Positive Memories to support our Mental Health

Using Positive Memories to support our Mental Health

Having spent time in care after losing my dad at the age of nine, life hasn’t been easy at times. I&r...
10 Signs A Setting Or Professional Really Is Trauma-Informed

10 Signs A Setting Or Professional Really Is Trauma-Informed

You may be a bit weary of being told that a setting, therapist, or other professional is trauma-informed, only...
Understanding Aggression by Colin Maginn

Understanding Aggression by Colin Maginn

“I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s...
Things to do in the Garden

Things to do in the Garden

Wow, would you believe we have now gone full circle? My very first interaction with you was in September last ...
Fostering Resilience, Restoring Personal Faith

Fostering Resilience, Restoring Personal Faith

Using the Expressive Arts as an alternative therapeutic practice to increase self-determination, develop ident...
Finding A Better Way To Understand How Children Feel (Health & Lifestyle)

Finding A Better Way To Understand How Children Feel (Health & Lifestyle)

So what do you tell a child that’s pleading with you to say everything will be OK? Their pink, pinched f...
Lornna's Musing

Lornna's Musing

Hi, I’m Lornna and I’ve been a Foster Carer for nearly 6 years, that’s 2080 day, or 2,955,20...
Why H2O should be your drink?

Why H2O should be your drink?

Who   doesn’t   crave   cold   soda   and   ...
Internet Safety For Children

Internet Safety For Children

When it comes to staying connected, there are almost infinite options these days. Not only can you stay in con...
Managing Challenging Behavior

Managing Challenging Behavior

OVER MY sixteen years as a police officer I have seen the sad truth of what goes on behind some doors. I re...
Wouldn?t Change It For The World

Wouldn?t Change It For The World

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT ROUTES INTO BECOMING A FOSTER CARER.. FOR HARRY, IT WAS A CHANCE MEETING WITH REPRESE...
Mind Your Mind!

Mind Your Mind!

Do you find your mind has a mind of its own? Does it tear around even when you ask it to focus on your studies...
How Hard Should We Push Children

How Hard Should We Push Children

One of the questions I get asked on a regular basis at my speaking events is: How hard should we push children...
At Home Learning

At Home Learning

If you’re one of the tens of millions of parents who are now essentially homeschooling your children, we...
Reshaping Sector Thinking

Reshaping Sector Thinking

Care Experienced Training At Section 31 Training and Consultancy we provide “feelings focussed&rd...
Our Fostering Journey

Our Fostering Journey

We also spent a year gaining invaluable experience of being around children who weren’t related to us. W...
WHY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON STRENGTHS

WHY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON STRENGTHS

There is a high bar to reach for a child to end up in foster care. Local authorities have limited resources an...
Helping Parents Everywhere Vet

Helping Parents Everywhere Vet

I used to wonder why people had a problem with sex in films. I saw it as a good way of representing the se...
I Lac Nothing!

I Lac Nothing!

Apparently I’m known as ‘Lac’, was ‘CIN’ and then ‘CP’. There&rs...
Life as a Foster Carer

Life as a Foster Carer

Hello Carers, Welcome to another day, another week and another month of ups and downs. It’s always a ...
Demystifying Disability

Demystifying Disability

A DISABILITY DOES not stop anyone from living a meaningful life or achieving success in many fields. It d...
Back Into School!

Back Into School!

LAST SEPTEMBER schools returned in unprecedented circumstances. The global pandemic has undoubtedly d...
The Worst Thing that has been said to you as a Foster Carer

The Worst Thing that has been said to you as a Foster Carer

Working as a foster carer can sometimes feel like a thankless task. Not only do you do the job that you do, sa...
Why I?ve Signed Up For a World Record Challenge

Why I?ve Signed Up For a World Record Challenge

2020. A year that started with so much promise and under-delivered in the most epic way possible. As physical ...
Even Small Steps Take us Forward

Even Small Steps Take us Forward

Whatever situation we find ourselves in we can always draw out positives. Sometimes these are easy to spot and...
Why Are There So Few Disabled Foster Carers

Why Are There So Few Disabled Foster Carers

In recent years, foster agencies across the state and independent sectors have struggled to recruit foster car...
Warren?s Care Story

Warren?s Care Story

THEY SAY IF YOU CAN SPEAK, you can influence and if you can influence, you can change people’s lives. So...
We All Have Mental Health : Let?s Look After It

We All Have Mental Health : Let?s Look After It

Mental health is usually spoken about when things go wrong. The focus is on the issues and struggles peop...
My Three Peaks Challenge

My Three Peaks Challenge

My name is Gethin Jones. I have a company called Unlocking Potential (www.unlockingthepotential. co.uk). I am ...
Healthy Eating When You?re Stuck At Home More Often!

Healthy Eating When You?re Stuck At Home More Often!

I don’t know about you, but I spent the first couple of weeks of lockdown raiding my cupbo...
What?s going on Spotlight- SUSIE HILLS

What?s going on Spotlight- SUSIE HILLS

Shining a light on role models in our community. This issue we have been joined by #teamkind founder Susie Hil...
Healing Trauma Through Love : Jerome?s Story

Healing Trauma Through Love : Jerome?s Story

My earliest memories were pretty traumatic. There were a lot of drugs and alcohol in my area, and my house was...
Removing Stigma and Shame from Mental Health

Removing Stigma and Shame from Mental Health

Mental Health is an important buzz phrase at the moment in lots of circles, so we are making a difference to t...
The Six Pillars For Mental Wellbeing

The Six Pillars For Mental Wellbeing

I don’t know what it feels like to foster a child but I do know what if feels like to conduct a child pr...
Does Your Child Need More Help At Home?

Does Your Child Need More Help At Home?

A Great Online Resource For All Ages *‘But I don’t like revising!!’* Yep… neither...
The First Family Should Be The Right Family

The First Family Should Be The Right Family

Family Means Everything We all know that children and young people do well when they are supported by peopl...