The Fostering Network receives national award for campaigning
The Fostering Network’s campaigns team, who led the successful Don’t Move Me campaign, has received a ‘highly commended’ award at the 2014 Charity Times Awards.
The team’s nomination for ‘Campaigning Team of the Year’ focused on our Don’t Move Me campaign which led to young people across England, Scotland and Wales gaining the right to remain living with their foster carers beyond their 18th birthday.
The judges made special mention of our success with a limited budget and of how taking advantage of legislation going through Parliament, the Children and Families Bill, represented a great opportunity to improve the lives of thousands of care leavers in England.
They also noted that once this breakthrough had been achieved, it laid the foundations for changing the law in Wales and Scotland too.
Jackie Sanders, director of public affairs at The Fostering Network, said: “We are proud to receive this award, but there were many people who were instrumental in ensuring that the campaign was successful.
“Foster carers and young people from across England, Scotland and Wales stood up and gave their time and energy to supporting the campaign. This was invaluable in persuading MPs, MSPs and AMs that this change in the law was urgent and much needed.
“While many politicians, from all parties, supported the campaign – The Fostering Network would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks and pay tribute to the late Paul Goggins MP. His tireless work in Parliament was the bedrock for a campaign which not only captured the public’s imagination – but has always forged real and long lasting change for all in foster care who want, and need it.
“We will continue to work on this issue to ensure that fostering services fulfil their statutory duty and that no young person who turns 18 in foster care is forced to leave the place that they call home.”
The award was collected by campaigns officer Robert Cann and campaigns manager Vicki Swain.
Find out more about how you can support the ongoing campaigning work of The Fostering Network on our website.
