Simply Fostering

Foster Families 

Summer 2009 will see foster carers getting their own lifestyle magazine, Foster Families.

                                   

The first of its kind, each issue is packed with a variety of news, views and features on a range of issues affecting looked after children and their foster carers.

 This quarterly, 48 page magazine crosses the two genres of parenting magazines and the more informative care magazines. As a parenting magazine it has features on family life, with 'how-to' and question sections, specifically aimed at parents who foster.

 Editor, Ceressa Bateman, said: "I felt it was time for foster carers to get a magazine aimed directly at them. They have such different roles to play from other parents, and go through very different things - I felt they deserved a magazine that focused on the aspects of parenting they deal with. It seeks to reach foster carers where they are, offering advice, and being a friend they can turn to. As a friend, we have some fun, we share stories, we give advice.

 "With over 50,000 children living in foster homes across the UK, we believe that foster carers should get all the support they can for the hard work that they do."

 Unlike other parenting magazines, Foster Families is aimed directly at foster carers, with each section focusing on their needs and providing relevant fostering information. Sections such as home, food and health focus on fostering, while offering some light reading.

 It encourages readers in their role and offers real-life stories of other foster carers in similar situations. The views of both children and foster parents are important, and the magazine reminds foster carers that they are not alone in their struggles - other people go through similar experiences and support groups are available.

 Foster Families is a free magazine, distributed to foster carers across the UK through independent fostering agencies and local council fostering departments. Or you can sign up to our mailing list. For your free copy, email ceressa@fosterfamilies.co.uk.

For more information, check out the website: www.fosterfamilies.co.uk

 

 

SIMPLY FOSTERING - NEWS UPDATE

Simply Fostering has received over 600,000 hits and almost 47,000 unique visitors since launching the web site in May 2008.

 

So far Simply Fostering has received enquiry forms from people who want to become foster carers, which have the potential to provide 1,860 much needed foster care placements for children and young people in the UK.

 

The Simply Fostering team would like to say good luck and a big 'THANK YOU' to the potential foster carers who used our service and a sincere 'thank you' to the like minded child care organisations who were good enough to provide articles and links on their web sites.

 

Launch of Fostering web site

The UK shortage of Foster Carers

There is an urgent need for around 10,000 more foster carers. This shortage means that children are being moved around from home to home, they have to be split up from their brothers and sisters, and have to live a long way from their family and friends.

 

Fostering.ws has been created by social workers with over thirty year’s experience in fostering. The idea for the web site came from the growing frustration they experienced trying to find suitable foster placements for children urgently needing foster care.

 

The unique web site has been designed to provide easy to understand, comprehensive information about fostering and how to become a foster carer.

Fostering.ws will help enquirers through the steps to becoming foster carers, they will identify suitable Fostering Agencies and help with their application. 

 

The more people approved as foster carers, the more likely it is that a good match can be found for a child in terms of location, culture, lifestyle, language and interests. More foster carers means reducing the damage that instability causes to the most vulnerable children in our society. Fostering.ws 

 

 

Shaleum Logan of Manchester City and on the right, ex Bolton and Scunthorpe footballer, Peter Morrison 'stand by Simply Fostering...