Worcestershire Fostering

We wrapped up 'Children of Foster Carers' month - and half term - with an all you can eat breakfast 😋 to thank them all.

We hope you've enjoyed a snapshot of fostering life through their wonderful quotes. Do get in touch with us if you want to chat about fostering.

"It has totally impacted upon and shaped my future. Through fostering I have discovered a passion for caring for children and giving them the very best opportunities to help them know they are loved and thrive."

A huge thank you to all the children of our foster carers who took the time to share their thoughts and experiences of fostering with us for .

We hope you enjoyed reading them as much as we did!

And we hope our fostering families enjoyed the all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast we put on for them this week - as another special thank you to the children of our foster carers for everything they do to support the children and young people in foster care. You are all ace 💚

If you have any questions about how fostering might impact on the children within your household, feel free to pick up the phone or drop us an email www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

29 year old ES reflects back on how growing up in a household that fosters has impacted her.

"Fostering has opened my eyes to the challenges faced by young people, particularly in the area of family and parenting, but also the difference a loving home can make. Seeing how massively negative childhood experiences can effect young people has helped me to think about the choices I make when parenting my own daughter." ES, 29



www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

The ups and downs of fostering - from the mouths of the children of our foster carers!

"Sometimes you have to be a bit more patient especially when the children are small and need stuff like now! That’s a bit annoying but you get used to it." EI, 14



www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

What a lovely start to half term 😊. We had great fun together eating spooky 👻 food and enjoyed being creative, playing games and meeting the animals Animal Mania - Mobile Zoo .

We hold lots of events and activity days for our foster families so there are lots of opportunities for the children of our foster carers to get together and meet new people.

12 year old FB said this was one of the good things about being in a fostering family.



www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

The children of our foster carers have been sharing their ups and downs of growing up in a family that fosters.

12 year old FW told us "saying goodbye is always difficult".

We offer support and training to our fostering families to help when children move on - and this includes how to support children within the family too.



www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

Kiri Pritchard - McLean Huntingdon Hall Worcester Theatres great night out with our foster carers laughing out loud and shedding a tear.

And a fantastic opportunity to share more about fostering. Give us a call 📞

Shout out to our newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Julie Linda, Kim Pountney, Melissa Turvey, Sandra Griffiths, Sally Chase, Rob Smith, Diana Wise, Su Chapman, Antonio Diaz Musardad, Jez Ogom, Denise Cornford, Geraldine O'Donnell, Mandy Williams, Wendy Hemsley, Sandra Young, Sarah Hepple, Julie Smith, Joanne Lee, Sian-Louise Harley-Preller, Vanda Reynolds, Nadia Jones, Darren Richards

This we've been sharing quotes from the children of our foster carers. We wanted to highlight how grateful we are to these children and young people for welcoming children into their families and making them feel happier, safer and loved.

14 year old JP told us: "I could show them stuff and help them play. They trusted me first because I am a child like them. It helped when they were scared and unsure when they first arrived."

www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

18 year old DH shared her thoughts about growing up in a family that fosters.

"It feels really rewarding when you can help a child be reunited with their Birth Parent. Sometimes it isn’t possible but when it is and you have played a small part it is very special."



www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

"I really love the identity of being a fostering family. I love telling everyone. And we get to go to Green Fingers in the holidays and we got to have breakfast with Santa, and go on extra days out just because we foster. I like getting vouchers when I write something for the magazine." JP, 10

Sounds like fostering with us has some great benefits for the whole family 💚



www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

"I went to bed and there were three children in the house – me and C and J. When I woke up there were two more. They came in the middle of the night and they were playing with my toys when I came downstairs. They only stayed for the weekend, but it was exciting. I don’t think they had toys like mine at their house." IP, 6

We're loving reading all the quotes and experiences of the children of our foster carers this . They really highlight how much their contribution means to us and the children in care.

www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

"I love living in a multi-generational fostering household. We have a unique opportunity to cheer on, encourage and speak truth into the lives of the Parent and Child placements who stay with us. My daughter gets to learn firsthand what sacrificial, unconditional love looks like. I get the opportunity to journey alongside other parents under the same roof, growing together. It is a privilege to share my parents’ wisdom, guidance and support with those who need it most." ES, age 29

Such a unique view - thank you for sharing with us!



www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

"Understanding the trauma and behaviours of babies has been fascinating and I feel I'll be a better Mother when I have babies." CP, age 16

It's been wonderful to hear about the benefits of fostering on the children of our foster carers 💚

www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

We can't wait, and we'll see you there! If you have ever thought about fostering, you won't want to miss this.

Only 1 WEEK TO GO until Kiri Pritchard-McLean lands at Huntingdon Hall! 🦚

She’s the Bruce Wayne of comedy but without the mansions. So come and join “Louise” as she lifts the lid on social workers, first aid training and what not to do when a vicar searches for you on YouTube 😂

"Expect sequins, social commentary, and massive laughs from the renaissance woman of UK comedy" Rolling Stone ✨

Grab your tickets today! 🎟
🔗 https://worcestertheatres.co.uk/whats-on/kiri-pritchard-mclean--peacock
📆 Sat 26 October - 7.30pm 📍 Huntingdon Hall
☎ 01905 611 427

Becoming a foster carer will have a huge impact on everyone living at home and everyone in the household needs to be committed to fostering.

Children of foster carers have to share their parents, their toys and their friends, as well as sometimes cope with difficult and challenging behaviour.

We asked the children of our foster carers what the negatives were about fostering and 13 year old CP said: "Not being able to use the escalators because we always have the pram and not being able to all go upstairs at 'New England' to look at the Christmas Shop together. Someone always has to stay downstairs with the baby."

We did say we'd share the ups and downs! Despite these difficulties, many children say that being part of a foster family has had a positive impact on them, and helped them to understand others better.

www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

We've been talking with the children of some of our foster carers this month to hear about the impact fostering has had on them.

16 year old CP said: "Being around the babies and their birth parents has helped me be a better person with a greater understanding. Almost always, parents haven't had a good upbringing, and it has made me appreciate mine. It's helped me with patience, understanding and not judging people."

www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

Film launch day! 🎥

We've just arrived at the Everyman Cinemas in Mailbox Birmingham for the national launch of our new fostering film 'Everything', created in collaboration with over 100 councils!

The film tells the heartfelt story of foster carer Mike, his family, and the incredible children they've cared for.

Keep an eye out, we'll be sharing the full film later today! You won't want to miss it! 🎬

Fostering can have a really positive impact on the children of foster carers.

This we've been talking to some of the children of our carers to find out their experiences of being a fostering family.

10 year old CP was once asked at school how many siblings she has, and replied "I have 12 brothers and sisters! I want to count all the children that have lived with us!" 💚

www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

Each October, we raise awareness of the important role children of foster carers play in a fostering household. It's an opportunity to highlight how much they do for children and young people in care and how vital they are to successful fostering.

14 year old JP told us "you learn how to look after babies".

www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

Each October, we raise awareness of the important role children of foster carers play in the fostering household.

We've been speaking to some children of our foster carers to hear about the challenges that growing up in a fostering family brings and the benefits it has brought.

One foster carer shared how her two children would argue to have their foster baby on their lap.

www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering

"I look back and, for everything, thank you."

Coming 17th October.