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Social enterprise Link Maker has launched a new national platform for the commissioning of care placements for all children.
Link Maker was formed in 2014 by adoptive parents, and the website was initially launched for adoption. It is now responsible for the majority of inter-agency adoptive placements across the UK, and is used by nearly every local authority and independent agency.
As the UK begins to welcome unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people, The Fostering Network is re-issuing its call for more people with the right skills and experience to come forward to foster.
In response to the announcement by the National Assembly for Wales's Llywydd, Elin Jones AM, of her intention to establish a youth parliament, Dr Emily Warren, director of The Fostering Network Wales, said: 'We are delighted to welcome the Llywydd's announcement to establish a long-called for youth parliament for Wales.
The Fostering Network Scotland has been awarded nearly £150,000 by the Big Lottery Fund for its two-year Walking Tall project which will improve the lives of children in foster care and the sons and daughters of foster carers.
Responding to the announcement at the SNP conference by First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon of a root and branch review of the care system, Sara Lurie, director of The Fostering Network Scotland, said:
‘Maybe I’m not as broken as I’ve sometimes felt’ are the heartfelt words of 18-year-old Johnny reflecting on his experiences of foster care.
The Fostering Network in Wales has been commissioned by the Welsh Government to hold a discussion group with foster carers to review the first year of its flagship Looked After Children’s Education Strategy.
Responding to the latest looked after children statistics from the Department for Education in England, Jackie Sanders, director of policy at The Fostering Network, said: ‘Having campaigned for a change in legislation to allow fostered young people to stay living with their foster carers until the age of 21, we are pleased that these latest figures show a continued rise in young people “staying put”. However, there is still plenty of room for growth.
Foster carers, their sons and daughters and care experienced young people are among the worthy winners at this year’s Fostering Excellence Awards, run by leading charity The Fostering Network.
The Fostering Excellence Awards, supported by bed specialists Dreams, are the UK's leading foster care awards, and celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement in fostering. Awards are presented to foster carers, their sons and daughters and social workers for their outstanding contributions to foster care, as well as to care experienced young people for their achievements.
Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: ‘The Fostering Network has, for many years, been concerned that young people who are leaving care are not sufficiently prepared for independence. Therefore, we welcome The Children’s Society report, The Cost of Being Care-Free, and particularly the call for financial better education for young people in care.
