Blogs

Lucy November is the creator of Fostering Hope, an online resource for foster carers and professionals that promotes excellence in parent-and-child foster care, recognising this as a specialised role needing additional training, skills and support. We caught up with Lucy to find out more about the website and what is available.

By Alfie Cross on March 10th, 2020

County lines is becoming an increasing problem within the UK and vulnerable children, including fostered children, are being exploited across towns and cities. Here you can read more about it.

By Emily Hall on February 25th, 2020

When Henry's family started to foster he was only seven years old. Even though, at that age, he didn't quite comprehend what fostering was, he quickly learned how it was helping the children his family was caring for. Now 18, Henry works for his local authority as an ambassador for children and young people and recently won one of our Fostering Excellence Awards for his outstanding contribution to foster care. 

By karina a on February 4th, 2020

We all know that postcodes can be pivotal when it comes to the provision of public services. The area you live in can affect your access to healthcare, leisure opportunities, your insurance prices, and more. In Scotland it also affects how much money is spent on children in care. Sara Lurie, director of The Fostering Network in Scotland, explains the situation and what can be done to change it.

By karina a on January 27th, 2020

When you have looked after over 100 children during 30 years as foster carers, retiring from fostering is a significant change. Eileen and Ian became foster carers almost three decades ago, now they are in their eighties and ready to settle down. Here, the couple share their experiences and give some wise advice: ‘You can’t change things over night. Slow down and enjoy what you have.’

By karina a on January 24th, 2020

Last week the Children’s Minister in England wrote to all English local authorities asking them to prioritise adoption as the best long-term option for looked after children. This blog from our chief executive, Kevin Williams, explains why we came out so firmly against the letter.

By Kevin Williams on January 21st, 2020
With a new year of raising funds beckoning us, we caught up with Nicky and Anne who work at Jancett Childcare and Training. Jancett Childcare spent a year fundraising for The Fostering Network and it highlights the success an organisation can have when they combine fundraising with their own calendar of events.
By Julia Cameron on January 14th, 2020

On behalf of The Fostering Network may I wish you a very peaceful and happy 2020, and thank you for all that you do every day for children and young people living in foster care. Thank you too for working alongside us as together we seek to make foster care the very best it can be for fostered children and young people and the families caring for them.

By Kevin Williams on December 26th, 2019

2019 has been fundraising-tastic here at The Fostering Network! It’s been brilliant to work with many of you on your fundraising journeys – we are extremely grateful to you for raising as much as you can so that we can support those who foster and the children in their care. If you also want to support us this Christmas, please read on.

By karina a on December 11th, 2019
APFEL (Acting for Promotion of Fostering at a European Level) is a European gathering of a variety of stakeholders who meet each year somewhere in Europe to debate and share resources and best practice to promote and improve foster care. The Fostering Network jointly hosted this year’s conference, Foster Care Transforming Lives, with APFEL on Wednesday 20th November. The event took place in Edinburgh and had attendees from France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands, UK, Switzerland and more.
By Daisy Elliott on November 28th, 2019