The UK home office defines unaccompanied asylum-seeking children as young people under 18 years old, who are applying for asylum, are separated from both parents, and are not in the care of a guardian. Usually aged between 13 and 17, they will have travelled independently into the UK to seek asylum from war and persecution. That is the UK home office definition. Here at TACT, we see frightened, disorientated and vulnerable young people who had to leave their own country, their families, friends and everything they owned and cared for. Providing a secure base to enable them to recover from past ..read more

Siblings Day marks an opportunity to celebrate the close bonds that exist between brothers and sisters, while also highlighting the important need for more foster carers who are able to look after sibling groups. First and foremost, fostering siblings helps keep brothers and sisters together. Children coming into care have often had traumatic experiences and been through more family dysfunction than they should have at their age. Siblings are often the only constant support network and consistent presence that young people in care have and therefore when siblings are placed together they retai ..read more

Books about fostering can be hugely informative, promoting inclusivity and highlighting the diversity of the family unit. But they can also provide children in care with scenarios and accounts that may be aligned to their own experiences. With the potential to be a guiding and reassuring light at a time of upheaval and past trauma, the value of such publications cannot be overstated. However, navigating a narrative path through the ups and downs of foster care in fiction can be sensitive and activating for some young people. Plotlines may be too similar to life events, or just too soon in a ch ..read more

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is taking place between 18th – 24th March 2024. The week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing the opportunity to recognise the many talents and advantages of being neurodivergent.   What is Neurodiversity? Neurodiversity is an umbrella term used to describe alternative thinking styles. Some of the conditions that are most common among those who describe themselves as neurodivergent include Dyslexia ..read more

In foster care, there are many professionals who work to provide care and support for young people. Foster carers, and the truly amazing things they do each day for children in their care, are at the forefront of this support network. However, to facilitate, regulate and oversee this care, social workers are essential. There are two categories of social worker involved in foster care: a Child’s Social Worker and a Supervising Social Worker. How do the social worker roles differ? A Child’s Social Worker, as the name suggests, will work solely in the best interests of a child in care. They will ..read more

This year’s International Women’s Day is all about inspiring inclusion, and is a celebration of the empowerment and global achievements of women. At TACT, our commitment to gender equality and inclusion is sewn into the very fabric of who we are. Our ongoing weekly wellbeing workshops for our staff include sessions on subjects such as menopause support, with regular drop-in ‘cafes’ that staff can join. Other sessions include supporting female health with nutrition, support through miscarriage and menstrual cycle in the work place. In addition to the menopause support we offer via our wellbeing ..read more

How many times have you been watching your favourite TV show, only for a storyline based around foster care to be introduced? The ‘big two’ UK soap operas, Coronation Street and Eastenders, have both featured prominent fostering storylines at one time or another. If correctly researched and deployed, these storylines can provide a window into fostering for millions of viewers. Before we look at three examples of foster care being depicted in TV shows, let’s start with how important it is to feature such storylines. Dispelling the myths A fostering storyline done well can dispel entrenched beli ..read more

It’s been a very busy term for the Education Service – what a way to end 2023!  With collating exam results, chasing in PEPs (Personal Education Plans) directly with Virtual Schools and direct case work where children and young people are experiencing difficulties with their education – it has been non-stop for the team.  This term alone we have been working directly with over 160 cases! We have provided a range of support, including (but not limited to!): Challenging exclusions. Supported young people into apprenticeships. Attended PEPs. Supported a number of young people to apply ..read more

2023 was a hugely significant year for TACT as we celebrated 30 years of creating better lives for children, young people and care experienced adults. We marked this with an event in Manchester where all our staff across the UK joined together to celebrate the successes of our foster carers and young people. Every day across 2023, our foster carers and our staff in all teams across the UK were working hard to make an incredible contribution to the lives of young people. Whether it was big weekends away or small gestures to improve a child’s daily experience, our staff and foster carers roles h ..read more

Christmas is a significant time for many families, particularly fostering families. For those who are celebrating during the festive season, there is much more to consider than just the food, presents and decorations. Christmas can often be a difficult time for young people in care, but foster carers do a wonderful job of making young people feel safe, cared for and as happy as possible during the holiday season. With Christmas just around the corner, we spoke to some of our foster carers about their Christmas traditions, what they’re looking forward to the most about the festivities and what ..read more