In this General Election year The Fostering Network is calling on you to register to vote, and to raise with your parliamentary candidates the issues highlighted in our manifesto which reflect what we believe needs to change to improve foster care for everybody. 

 

We have taken our message to all the main UK-wide political parties, and have already met with Conservative MP and children’s minister Edward Timpson, as well as Prime Minister David Cameron’s policy advisor, Steve McCabe MP - Labour’s shadow children’s minister, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg’s special advisor, and representatives from the Green Party.  

 

To achieve better foster care for all, we believe that we need to see:

 

• Investment and monitoring;

• A recognition of the importance of relationships;

• A professional framework around fostering;

• A new approach to social work.

 

Vicki Swain, campaigns manager at The Fostering Network, said: “If you are visited or contacted by politicians during the election campaign, why not ask them what they will do to improve foster care? You as foster carers, and the children you devote your lives to caring for, deserve your MP to not only be aware of the issues you’re facing – but to be a positive advocate for the cause.

 

“Foster carers provide an immense service to our society and The Fostering Network will continue to campaign for change that will make foster care better as we always have. We know that campaigning can work, especially given the success of our Don’t Move Me campaign to introduce staying put, and so we must continue to push for the betterment of all involved in fostering.

 

“We cannot make change if you do not register to vote, and so we hope in the build up to the election you will let your local parliamentary candidates know that fostering is a priority for you as a voter.”

 

You can find some ideas of what to discuss with your local candidates on our current issues page. 

 

You can register to vote on the Government's website.