Ever met someone so kind, they had a statue made in their honour? Neither had we, until we met foster carer Jo from East Yorkshire. She chats to us about winning the #myKINDhero award and the story behind it.

On 21 June 2023 Professor Ray Jones published his final report as Chair of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care in Northern Ireland. The report sets out a plan to transform children’s services through a whole scale reconfiguration of children’s trusts and the creation of a new Northern Ireland wide independent agency. It also made some key recommendations on foster care to which The Fostering Network contributed, which Kathleen Toner, director for Northern Ireland will explore in this blog.

Not many 16-year-olds can say they are a qualifying athlete for Team GB, and for Bebe, from Harlow, Essex, her journey to getting there has been inspirational.

Roseanne, Beverley and Katherine spent a year in foster care, but unlike some fostered siblings they weren’t separated. More than two decades later, the three sisters explain the hugely positive impact being fostered together has had on them throughout their lives, and why it’s vital siblings must remain together in foster care.

It’s fair to say that Foster Care Fortnight™ 2023 has been our biggest yet! We kickstarted the two weeks with the first ever fostering event at 10 Downing Street, celebrating fostering and hearing speeches from Mockingbird hub home carers. 

Foster carers had real conversations with the Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan, and Claire Coutinho, Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, about what changes are needed to improve foster care. This blog includes reflections from Eddie, Jim and Mike who came to the event. 

We share a few of the highlights of Foster Care Fortnight™ 2023 

Lisa became a foster carer 16 years ago, after plans to become a kinship carer for a friend’s baby fell through. She shares her fostering journey – explaining why choosing to become a foster carer is the best thing she’s ever done.