My name is Jasmine and I wanted to share with you what I have achieved since living with my aunt and uncle. I am 14 years old and have been living with my aunt and uncle for 10 years. Throughout this time I have accomplished a lot of things and have been given many opportunities by The Fostering Network, all of which I am extremely grateful for. 

As of 31 March 2020 there were 2,673 children living with foster families in Northern Ireland. Around 35 per cent of those children are in kinship placements. To put it simply a kinship placement is when a child goes to live with a member of their family or close friend who must be approved by their local trust.

Behind those numbers are real people. I am one of them.

Well what a year it’s been!

I did not expect us to be running Foster Care Fortnight virtually for the second year in a row but here we are and as CEO of The Fostering Network I am writing to say a huge thank you for all of your fostering efforts over the last year.

Leah Glenday is the first pupil from her school and the first young person in foster care from the London Borough of Haringey to study at the University of Cambridge. She has also inspired her younger sister, Kia, to pursue big ambitions of her own. We spoke to them both about their academic goals and achievements.