Top Stories
Tributes have been paid to foster carer Audrey Wearing MBE who has died after 44 years of fostering children – https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23247046.tributes-darwen-foster-carer-200-children/
Opinion piece by Fiona Duncan that discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the data collected by the Independent Care Review – https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/scotland-needs-to-do-data-differently-to-understand-challenges-for-families-fiona-duncan-3979209
Here’s your news from across the UK:
Over the festive period, John Lewis’s Christmas advert brought attention to fostering and foster care. Now two Nottinghamshire foster carers are urging people to keep the issues in mind at the start of the new year – https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/newsroom/news/nottinghamshire-couple-call-for-others-to-make-a-d
An opportunity has arisen thanks to the Orkney Local Employability Partnership (OLEP) delivery of a one-off grant scheme aimed at further tackling employability barriers. It is available for Care Experienced people 16+ – https://www.orkney.gov.uk/News?postid=6968
Vulnerable kids are being sent more than 450 miles away to Scotland due to a shortage of care places, a council has revealed – https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/vulnerable-kids-sent-to-scotland-over-shortage-of-care-spaces/
A foster carer from Birmingham shares her experiences of fostering for over a decade – https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/special-features/how-fostering-made-family-stronger-25891355
Lancashire County Council campaign shows fostering is open to everyone – https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23241197.lancashire-county-council-campaign-shows-fostering-open-everyone/
A man has been found guilty after murdering his ex-partner and her two children. A foster carer says she tried to warn the mother. CW – disturbing content – https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/foster-parents-tragic-young-mum-25939190
Nottingham City Council is the next to make “Care Experienced” a protected characteristic – https://nottstv.com/campaigner-over-the-moon-after-council-passes-motion-to-protect-care-leavers/
Campaigners have attacked Government plans which they say will turn bedsits and hostels into accepted housing for vulnerable older children in the care system – https://bylinetimes.com/2023/01/10/government-attacked-over-plans-for-hostels-bedsits-caravans-boats-and-barges-to-be-acceptable-housing-for-children-in-care/
A Nottingham campaigner who has been spearheading a nationwide fight to get more recognition for care leavers says he has been doing so in memory of his sister. Terry Galloway, 46, was first placed into care with his sister Hazel when he was just months old. CW: domestic abuse and death – https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/nottingham-man-fighting-memory-sister-8017212
Questions have been raised over a £17m funding “black hole” for Sefton’s children’s services – https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/questions-over-17m-funding-black-25951446
Child asylum seekers missing after disappearing from hotels in Hove – https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23243072.child-asylum-seekers-missing-disappearing-hotels-hove/
A foster couple in Falkirk shares they are taking retirement after nearly 30 years which saw them care for 117 children. – https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/falkirk-foster-carers-who-looked-28939141
Progress continues to be made on improvements to the Fostering, Adoption and Adult Placement (Continuity Care) Services in Orkney – https://www.orkney.gov.uk/News?postid=6971
MSP says ‘ordinary’ Scots are being rejected by the University of Edinburgh – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-64247475
Here’s your news from the rest of the world:
In America, parents who have their kids placed in foster care will sometimes get a bill to reimburse the state for part of the cost. NPR found that in at least 12 states there are laws that say parents could lose their kids forever if they fail to pay it – https://www.npr.org/2023/01/02/1146589710/in-some-states-an-unpaid-foster-care-bill-could-mean-parents-lose-their-kids-for
The children’s care system needs to recognise black children and young people in care face an extra layer of challenges, writes the chief executive of The Transformed You – https://www.lgcplus.com/services/children/judith-denton-people-with-experience-of-care-must-have-a-seat-at-the-table-09-01-2023/
Crystal Boivin, who is raising her four biological kids and her sister’s five children without any financial support from social services, shares her story –https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/parenting/im-raising-9-kids-after-taking-in-my-sisters-children-ive-saved-the-state-over-dollar100000-in-foster-care-payments-but-dont-get-support-because-im-family/ar-AA167Yvj?li=BBnb7Kz
