Fostering Ltd Blog

Fostering can be a big life change and it is important to build a support network of friends, family and your fostering agency.  If this change is a challenge for you, if you already have children it will be a challenge for them and they will have their own fears, concerns and apprehensions.

Below we outline a few ideas that you can use to make the transition easier for your existing children.

Fostering teenagers doesn’t mean you will miss out important life events, there are a whole host of milestones that a teenager will have.

One of the key tasks of any foster carer is to create a good environment for the child or young person, help them settle in, talk to them and listen to any concerns or ideas they have to make them comfortable in your home.

Is this it?…. Has the British Summer turned up?

We all know that the British Summer can come and go in an instant, so as soon as the Sun comes out we go for it! Deck chairs, BBQ, t-shirts off, paddling pools filled….

So the restrictions are being relaxed and that means we can go outside much more, but with zoos, play centres, farm parks, amusement parks still closed how can you make the most of the outdoors?

We put together some apps and technology to make life as a foster carer that bit easier and have updated to include some that can help during the COVID-19 restrictions.

Keeping in touch with friends and family has never been more important. 

Technology can sometimes get in the way, so we have rounded up the best apps to use to keep in touch during the lockdown.

Everyone has been impacted by school closures and many are looking for ways to keep children and young people learning during this time.

We have put together some of the best apps and learning systems, some free, some paid to use to keep everyone on track

With new social distancing measures in place it is important that we all stay safe, but staying in our homes for long periods can be a challenge.

Keeping children entertained can sometimes be expensive, but here are a few tips to make sure you can have some great days out at a fraction of the cost.

TikTok is now the fastest growing social media network, recently overtaking tech giant Facebook. Here is what you need to know.

We have talked on our previous blogs about making new traditions to make children in care really feel like part of the family.

There is no doubt that Halloween fever has hit the UK hard and just like Christmas it gets earlier every year! 

Halloween night is just after the clocks go back so we have put together some tips for staying safe, as well as some fun family activities to try during this spooky time!

Here are some great podcasts for both prospective foster carers as well as existing carers.

If you have completed the process and are waiting for a placement, here are a few things you can prepare before hand to make the transition easier.

GCSE results day can be a very stressful but exciting time for a young person, on the one hand, they are awaiting results that determine their next steps but no matter what grades they achieve, there’s a course for everyone and taking that next step post-high school can be an exciting time. For a lot of young people it’s one of the first times that they get to be truly independent and head off into the big wide world.

We asked one of our Foster Carers to give future carers advice to help them, here's what they said:

There are many myths around Foster care that stop many people from applying as they assume they are not eligible.  In this post we aim to put these myths to bed once and for all.

Exam season is just around the corner and it can be a very stressful time for young people. We have outlined a few tips on how you can help them through this time.

There is a huge demand for new foster families and as a result, there are many recruitment drives happening at the moment.

At Fostering Ltd we understand that going from thinking about fostering to making the call and starting the process is a huge step.  So how do you find out more about fostering to find out if it is something you want to pursue?

We know fostering can seem like a confusing process at times, but it isn't as complicated as it seems.The jargon and abbreviations sometimes don't help, so we have put together this jargon buster.  If we have missed something, let us know.

You don’t have to have children of your own to be a Foster Carer but we do recommend that in order to get approved you will have to have experience of working with or caring for children.

On A Level Results Day, you might be wondering what you can do to support the young people in your family. Here is a brief guide about what you can do:

When taking children and young people into your care it is important that you make them feel welcome and part of the family.

Connecting with and getting to know other foster carers can be a real help, here are a few ways they can really make a diiference.

It is probably true that there is no perfect time to become a foster carer, but the same is true for most things, life just gets in the way.  A lot of people we speak to say they like the idea of fostering but have just not got around to taking the first steps.

So how do you know that foster care is for you? We have looked at a few things that might mean it’s time to take the plunge.

The summer is approaching and for many a trip to the hairdressers or a passing conversation with friends while shopping will always see the phrase “Are you going on holiday this year?” pop up.

For foster carers though, it is a bit more difficult than booking a last minute deal and packing your suitcase.  That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it, you might just need to take a few extra steps.

There is often a misconception that having pets means you can't foster.  This is not the case.

Many people are put of Fostering after hearing horror stories.  Teenagers are especially subject to the unfair stigma attached to them due to stories of behavioral issues.

When people come into foster care they are given a referral stating incidents and behavior issues.  Speaking to our carers David and Yvonne recently shed light on why although you should take note of the history, all cases should be started with a blank slate.

From speaking to our own carers we know that fostering isn’t something that people decide to do overnight.  Many of our current foster carers say they thought about foster care for many years before taking the plunge.

But what makes people finally say yes? There is an urgent need for foster carers throughout the UK and with so many people thinking about it, what can we do to help them to take steps to begin the process?

Daniel and Angela had thought about fostering for many years but didn't have the spare room required.

When they got the third bedroom required they still had questions about whether they would be eligible.

One of the most common questions we get asked is how to prepare for panel.

Panel can feel like an intimidating process and people may feel like it is a test.

Below we outline how to approach panel and make the experience a little less nerve wracking

A lot of our blogs feature our fantastic carers, sharing advice, their experiences and their stories. 

We wanted to get another perspective of Fostering, so this time we spoke with one of the teenagers that has been placed with one of the Fostering Ltd families.  She has had a great experience and we asked her what traits she thinks a Foster Carer should have:

Fostering is not a one size fits all and every Foster Carer is completely different.  One thing they do have in common is that they find fostering very rewarding.

All of our carers have unique perspective due to their own experiences. Here are a few bits of advice they would give to other Foster Carers.

This is a wonderful Poem from one of the children in foster care.

The first days of a foster placement can sometimes be the hardest.  It can take both sides a while to get settled.  

We have outlined a few ideas and suggestions of how to make the transition smooth and all parties feel more comfortable.