News

Our elected trustees need to be passionate about improving foster care for children and young people in the UK, and about The Fostering Network and its role. But beyond that they need to bring skills and experience which enable them to govern a large, successful and complex charity and membership organisation like The Fostering Network.

The Fostering Network welcomes the publication of The National Audit Office report: Care Leavers' Transition to Adulthood, and its scrutiny by the Commons Public Accounts Committee, as it reinforces the need for adequate investment in our social services throughout England.

The Fostering Network Wales is calling on foster carers to share their views on education.

In response to the release of the results of the national survey of children in care by the Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield, in England, Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: “The Fostering Network has long campaigned for children in foster care to be supported beyond the age of 18 when they legally become an adult and leave the care system.

"In 2013, following The Fostering Network's Don't Move Me campaign, the Government in England implemented Staying Put to allow young people who reach 18 living in foster care the opportunity to continue to live with their foster carer, and other UK governments are following suit. When this is implemented consistently across the board, it will be a huge step towards improving the lives of young people leaving foster care, and we support research into introducing similar change for other care situations.

The Fostering Network welcomes the publication of Achieving Emotional Wellbeing for Looked After Children, a recently released report produced by the NSPCC. The report explores the causes of poor mental health among looked after children and considers how services in local areas can work together to ensure a care system that prioritises good emotional wellbeing for looked after children. 

The Fostering Network’s 2015 Annual Conference will discuss the key educational issues for children and young people in foster care, and consider the work of innovative educators and programmes of activity. It will take place on Tuesday 17 November at BMA House in London.

The Fostering Network is calling on you to nominate people who have made an outstanding contribution to foster care in the last year as we prepare for the second annual Fostering Excellence Awards.

The Fostering Network is pleased to announce that early bird places are now available for our conference, Permanence in Foster Care: improving choices and life chances for children and young people, which will take place on Thursday, 17 September.

Until now there has been little investigation in to the costs that foster carers bear in order to provide the extra accommodation space that their fostered children require, or the implication on foster carer recruitment and retention.

This important new research by Professor Tunstall is a vital first step in increasing our understanding of the issue, and in helping the fostering sector consider what might be the policy implications affecting matters such as allowances and grants to foster carers, and the allocation of social housing.