As Staffordshire County Council launches a drive to recruit prison officers and ex military as foster carers the question being asked is what they expect them to do with challenging kids in care. On the face of it, it’s a fair question. We don’t want our foster homes to become extensions of youth custody establishments.…
Fostering is not only a rewarding task, but it can also be very challenging, testing and at times energy draining. That is why it is very important that we focus on providing reliable support to foster families, which can really make a difference in solving problems, working through issues and keeping placements of children and…
An intention to become a foster carer is often carried around for several years, before actually being put into action. When we speak to people who contact us to find out more about fostering, or to apply to become a foster carer, they often say: ’I have been thinking about becoming a foster carer for…
Here is the second part to an article in December 2012 about Resilience in which we acknowledged how important this issue is for children in foster care. Why is resilience important Since resilience is about overcoming difficulties and ‘bouncing back’ it is obvious that, wherever resilience is asked for, something difficult has happened. For foster…
In the second part of our series on supplements, Anastasia Stephens, nutrition advisor to UK Fostering recommends some leading super-foods. Taken from nutrient-rich natural sources, they’re packed with vitamins and minerals, but are much more easily digested. Many supplements sold in chemists and supermarkets contain synthetically manufactured vitamins which are difficult for the body to…
>The crackle of sparklers, wintery air and fireworks unfurling across the city skyline make Bonfire night in London a uniquely atmospheric family event. ‘For those Fostering in and around London, it also offers a chance to enjoy a great outdoor experience with the whole family,’ says Urs Bielmann of UK Fostering. To find a good…
For family fun this Halloween, get your pumpkins on the table. There’s no better way to stir up ghoulish inspiration and be spooked by your families creative talent. ‘Few activities can claim to be as creative, cheap, fun and nutritious as a pumpkin party,’ says Urs Bielmann, director at UK Fostering. So get a bagful…
Fostering children with disabilities is a chance to make a real difference in the lives of others, but did you know that many people shy away from this area of care because they don’t feel up to the task? Here Director Urs Bielmann explores why this is, and why those who may be thinking about…
Hackney Child – the true story of a neglected but resourceful child, surviving poverty and the care system. By Hope Daniels and Morag Livingstone A book review by Urs Bielmann, Director of UK Fostering This remarkable story is told through the eyes of a child as she is growing up in the eighties. Memories and…
The idea of having a Foster Carer Charter came from a need to share an understanding what foster care is about. Whilst within the network of professionals (social services, social workers, therapists as well as many voluntary organisations concerned with the welfare of children) the concept of fostering is generally very clear, this does not…