Make a Resolution that Matters, foster with your local council
As we step into 2024, we are filled with hope and excitement for the new opportunities that lie ahead. The start of a new year is a time for fresh beginnings and setting new goals, and what better goal than to make a positive impact on a child’s life through fostering?
This month, we explore how the new year can be a perfect time to start your journey as a foster carer for your local council. Whether you’re considering fostering for the first time or looking to expand your fostering family, the new year brings a chance to open your heart and home to children in need. Join us as we share inspiring stories, provide valuable resources, and offer support to help you take the first step towards making a difference in 2024. Let’s make this year one of growth, compassion, and new beginnings together!
So, no matter where you are on your fostering journey, we hope you’ll enjoy reading more below. Don’t forget, we’re here for you whenever you feel ready to take the next step, or if you just want some of your questions answered.
Meet some of our local council foster carers – BCP Council
In the video a group of our local council foster carers for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council share the reasons why they think people should foster with their local authority.
They talk about how rewarding it feels for foster carers to see the children and young people you support grow and of the support available from the team around the child and other foster carers.
New Year, New Start: Fostering with Swindon Borough Council
For many, the new year is a time to set goals and embrace opportunities. In Swindon, fostering offers the chance to transform lives by providing safety, stability, and love for children in need. In Swindon, fostering is a community effort, and there’s never been a better time to join this life-changing endeavour.
What’s Ahead in 2025?
Swindon Borough Council is introducing new initiatives to support foster carers and children:
- Enhanced Training Programs: Specialised training on trauma-informed care and support for children with special needs.
- Community Building Events: Opportunities for foster families to connect and share experiences.
- Increased Recruitment Efforts: Expanding outreach to bring more families into the fostering community.
The council’s vision is to create a network of empowered, supported, and inspired foster carers.
A New Year, A New Opportunity
If you’ve ever considered fostering, let 2025 be the year you take that first step. Swindon Borough Council is seeking individuals and families from all walks of life to join their fostering community. Whether you’re single, married, renting, or a homeowner, fostering could be the fresh start you’re looking for and the start of something life-changing for a child in need.
Visit Swindon Borough Council’s fostering page to learn more about information sessions, the application process, and how you can make 2025 a year of transformation.
Types of Fostering – Short term fostering
Are you looking for a way to make a meaningful impact in a child’s life, even if you can’t commit to long-term fostering? Short term fostering might be the perfect fit for you. At Fostering South West, we understand that every child’s situation is unique, and sometimes they need a safe, loving home for just a few days, months or up to two years.
Short term fostering provides crucial support during times of transition, whether it’s while a child’s long-term placement is being arranged, or they are returning to their birth family. It’s a flexible and rewarding way to help children in need, offering them stability and care during uncertain times.
By becoming a short term foster carer, you can provide a nurturing environment that helps children feel secure and valued. Your role is vital in helping them navigate challenging periods and ensuring they have the support they need to thrive.
Why foster for your local authority – Keep children local
One great reason to foster for your local council is that it helps keep children and young people close to home.
When children stay in their local area, they can keep going to the same school, hang out with their friends, and stay connected to their community. This makes a big difference because it gives them a sense of stability and normality during tough times. By fostering with your local council, you’re helping children stay in a familiar and comforting environment, which is really important for their wellbeing. Plus, it means they don’t have to deal with the stress of moving to a completely new place.
This helps improve outcomes for both foster carers, and the children and young people they support..
Our recommended resources
“Nobody’s Child” written by Kate Adie, is a powerful and moving exploration of the lives of foundlings – children who were abandoned at birth and grew up without knowing their biological parents. Adie, a renowned journalist and presenter, delves into the extraordinary stories of these individuals, shedding light on their experiences and the challenges they faced.
This book is particularly insightful for prospective foster carers, as it highlights the profound impact that a stable, loving home can have on a child’s life. Through the voices of those who have lived through such hardships, Adie emphasises the importance of providing care and support to children in need. “Nobody’s Child” is not just a collection of stories; it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of fostering.
For anyone considering fostering, this book offers a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological needs of children who have experienced abandonment and loss. It serves as a reminder of the critical role foster carers play in offering hope and a sense of belonging to vulnerable children.
Where’s Ray?
Follow Ray’s journey visiting our local council partners in our newsletter.
Well done to everyone who correctly guessed that Ray was on the Dartmouth Steam Railway in December’s edition.
Each month Ray will be in a new location, spreading the word about the importance of fostering with your local council.
Where do you think Ray is this month? Let us know via our social medias, or email in and get the chance to win a large Mood Bear.
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