The team at NFA Scotland If you’re thinking of fostering in Scotland, Pam Coombs-Goodfellow will be one of the first people you talk to. Pam is a Carer Recruitment Officer (CRO) supporting potential foster carers from the Highlands to the Lowlands. Pam has worked in fostering for 4 years and is an adoptive mum of 2 children (11 and 15), so she really gets it. The team she works with at NFA Scotland are all experienced fostering professionals; some have fostered or adopted too. They pride themselves at their ability to ‘think outside the box’. “We are a wonderful team and we help create littl ..read more

Fostering isn’t about numbers, it’s about people. Saying that, sometimes the data tells a story that’s inspiring in its own right. NFA Midlands, for example, is our largest fostering team outside London. Headquartered in Solihull, it covers 2 regions – East Midlands and West Midlands incorporating towns and cities across 11 counties. It’s a 40-strong team that supports 221 families fostering in Birmingham and the surrounding areas, plus 100s of foster children. The agency team comprises an admin team, Carer Recruitment Officers, Supervising Social Workers, Carer Support Workers and a host of o ..read more

Eddy Maywand’s charity fund-raiser is the ultimate ice-breaker. For the last 53 days, Eddy – nicknamed Ice Man by his friends – has plunged his body into freezing cold water in a bid to raise money for Mind. And – with a pledge to take an ice bath every day for 365 days – he’s still got more than 300 days of subzero submersion to go. Eddy’s target is to raise £5,000 for the mental health charity at the same time as boosting his own physical and mental wellbeing and testing his endurance. A keen sportsman who visits the gym five times a week and plays football, Eddy is no stranger to aches and ..read more

Our brand new podcast, is out NOW! Nothing is more real than hearing other people’s first-hand experiences, and our podcast aims to do just that. Throughout these episodes, we will speak with current foster carers, birth children, staff members and, most importantly, young adults who were fostered themselves. Our podcast is available on all podcast streaming services and for ease can be listened to below. The post Focus on Fostering Podcast appeared first on National Fostering Group ..read more

After an application process that took months, to pursue a dream she’d harboured for much longer, Hayley is now just waiting on the paperwork. The family court approved her adoption of three-year-old Shirley a few weeks ago, so she’s legally her mum. Nevertheless, she’s looking forward to getting the certificate of adoption and seeing it in writing. Hayley, 33, who has brittle bone disease, understandably feels proud and relieved. She’s adopted the foster child she loves. She’s overcome doubt and fear of disappointment and, in doing so, has transformed both their lives. “My disability hasn’t s ..read more

Foster children at a recent event hosted by FS South Casey, a Carer Recruitment Officer based in Winchester, has spent a few days driving around her patch to deliver long service awards and enjoy countless cuppas with her foster carers. It’s a familiar routine. “We have quite a few foster carers who’ve been with us for 10 years,” she said. “In fact, we’ve got more who’ve been with us for more than 20 years. Our foster carers are so special and sometimes they need reminding.” These ‘reminders’ are ongoing and Fostering Solutions South recognises when their carers go above and beyond or persev ..read more

“When we first saw the preliminary report on our foster daughter, her class teacher had written ‘I’d have 30 like her in my class if I could’. She was clearly doing so well at school, we realised that she probably just needed more love and stability at home. She was 10 at the time, and she’d been in six or seven different foster homes and was then in a residential children’s home. She needed to feel she belonged somewhere, that someone wanted her. She’s got that now and she’s thriving.” – Vicky, foster carer Vicky and Ian were approved as foster carers with Fostering Solutions in February 202 ..read more

Earlier this year, a supervising social worker at Fostering Solutions in Oundle was unable to go with a foster carer to a court hearing about one of their foster children. The outcome of the hearing looked uncertain and the foster carer felt anxious. One of the Oundle team’s family support workers stepped in. She rescheduled her own childcare requirements and made the 6-hour round trip to attend the hearing and offer moral support. Rose Griffith, who is the team’s carer recruitment officer, said this anecdote sums the Oundle team up: everybody cares and goes out of their way; it has a genuine ..read more

Part of being a parent is making sure your child has skills and knowledge they need to get by in the world. The need is the same for foster children, except there’s a full team available to help them get to grips with tasks like ironing, setting up a bank account, and more. Sarah Quarterman had worked with teenagers in residential care and as a foster carer for 14 years. When she joined Alliance Fostering in Northampton as a support worker in 2021, she decided this independent living guidance needed updating. Her plan was that it should better reflect how ways of doing things have changed, as ..read more

With prices sky-rocketing and many of us worrying about paying for essentials like the weekly food shop or heating our homes, Christmas just around the corner might seem less of a cause for celebration than normal this year. This can be particularly true for families with children, who might be worrying about how to sprinkle a little magic over the festive season while keeping a tight grip on their bank balance. If this is you, or if you would simply like to keep Christmas costs under control, this blog is for you.. Presents don’t have to cost a fortune It’s a bit of a cliché but some of the ..read more