General
Inclusive Support for Children in Foster Care: Meeting Every Child’s Needs
Every child in foster care is unique. Some may need extra support at school, others emotional understanding, and many will need flexibility…
Supporting Children in Foster Care to Stay Safe Online
Online life is now part of everyday childhood. For children in foster care, the digital world can offer connection, creativity and learning…
Listening to Children’s Voices in Foster Care: Putting Children at the Heart of Everything We Do
At Beacon Fostering we believe that listening to children’s voices is fundamental to good foster care. Children and young people in care…
Fostering in England: What the Latest Figures Mean for Foster Care and Foster Carers
At Beacon Fostering, we celebrate and champion every foster carer, every fostering household, and every foster placement – especially as the latest…
How to Know if I am Being Supported Enough as a Foster Carer
Feeling adequately supported as a foster carer is essential for your well-being and for providing stable, nurturing foster care for children in…
What Is A Fostering Application Form?
A fostering application form is the first formal step in becoming an approved foster carer with a fostering agency. It captures key…
How to Plan Festive Activities with Your Foster Child
The festive season is a wonderful opportunity for foster carers to create positive memories, deepen connections and nurture a sense of belonging…
Improving Communication Between Foster Carer and Foster Child
Strong communication is at the heart of every successful fostering relationship. For a foster child – who may have faced trauma, loss…
Supporting Your Foster Child Through a Challenging Period
Every child in foster care carries a unique story, shaped by experiences that often include trauma, uncertainty and disrupted attachments. Because of…
Celebrating Christmas as a Fostering Unit
Christmas is a magical time of year, filled with warmth, connection and opportunities to create cherished memories. For foster carers, the festive…
A Helpful Guide to Understanding the Responsibilities and Roles of a Foster Carer
Becoming a foster carer is one of the most meaningful and rewarding decisions someone can make. Foster carers play a vital role…
Foster Care Challenges Faced by First-Time Foster Parents
Stepping into the world of fostering for the very first time is both exciting and life-changing. Many people choose to foster because…
How to Support a Foster Child Who Feels Homesick
It’s common for a foster child to feel sad, unsure, or distant during their early days in a new home. These feelings…
Low-Cost Days Out for Foster Families
For many foster families, keeping to a budget is a daily reality, so finding low-cost ways to spend meaningful time together really…
Discount Cards & Benefits For Foster Carers
Discount cards and benefits for foster carers play a huge role in recognising the incredible commitment foster families make every day. For…
Importance of Life Story Work
Life story work is an essential part of foster care and plays a vital role in helping children and young people understand…
Foster Talk Membership and Your Support
Becoming a foster carer is one of the most rewarding journeys a person can take, but it also comes with challenges that…
Creative Life Skills – Teaching Independent Living To Older Foster Children
Preparing older foster children for independent living is one of the most important and rewarding responsibilities that foster carers and fostering agencies…
Using Arts and Craft to Build Trust with Foster Children
Building trust with a foster child is one of the most important – and sometimes most challenging – aspects of fostering. Many…
Preparing Your Home for Winter – A Foster Carer’s Guide
As the days get shorter and the temperatures dip, it’s vital for foster carers to prepare their homes for winter. Creating a…
Importance of a Back-Up Foster Carer and Your Support Network
When you start your fostering journey, you quickly discover that fostering children and young people brings immense rewards and unique challenges. As…
Managing Foster Children’s Savings for Their Independence
Supporting children and young people in care to manage their money is an essential part of preparing them for adult life. As…
Activities for Foster Families on Bonfire Night
Bonfire Night is a fantastic opportunity for foster families to create memorable experiences and strengthen bonds through fun, safe activities. At Beacon…
Spooky Fun: Creating Safe and Memorable Halloween Plans with Foster Children
Halloween is a wonderful opportunity for foster carers to create lasting memories with their foster children. It’s a time to celebrate creativity,…
Our Connection with Sunbeam Fostering: Strength in Partnership
At Beacon Fostering, we are proud to be part of a wider family of fostering excellence through our close connection with Sunbeam…
Helping Foster Children Adjust to New Eating Routines
When a child enters a new foster home, almost everything changes – including how, when, and what they eat. For many foster…
Black History Month and Fostering: Celebrating Heritage, Building Belonging
Each October, we celebrate Black History Month – a time to honour the incredible achievements, resilience, and cultural contributions of Black people…
Mockingbird Model and Fostering: Building Stronger Communities for Foster Carers
Fostering is an incredibly rewarding journey, but it can also be emotionally demanding. Many foster carers say that one of the hardest…
Reducing Foster Carer Burnout – Wellbeing Strategies
Fostering is one of the most rewarding roles there is, offering children a safe, stable, and loving home when they need it…
Autumn Activities for Foster Families
As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, autumn offers a wonderful opportunity for foster carers and children to share memorable…
Fostering Tips to Welcome Children to Your Home
Making a Warm Welcome in Foster Care When a child arrives in foster care, those first moments in a new home are…
The importance of culture in fostering unaccompanied asylum-seeking children
When an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child or young person arrives in the UK, they have often faced loss, trauma, and uncertainty. Foster care…
Mileage and transport for foster carers
The care planning for each child or young person in foster care will cover the plan relating to their school or college…
Latest fostering panel and new fostering families join Beacon Fostering!
Following the agency’s Ofsted registration in May earlier this year, we are now really pleased to have held our second fostering panel….
Birth Family Contact in Fostering
The contact for the birth family, of child or young person in fostering, is an important area and should be supported. That…
Foster Carers Required to Support Teenagers in Stoke-On-Trent
There continues to be a shortage of foster carers across England and this includes locally in Stoke-on-Trent. Children in care numbers for…
What Is Foster Care? A Simple Guide for Everyone
Introduction Being a foster carer provides you with an amazing opportunity to support a child or young person in your own home….
5 Challenges Foster Carers Face in Bolton and How to Overcome Them
Background Being a foster carer presents an amazing opportunity to support a child or young person and make a difference to their…
From Corporate Strategy to Human Impact: Why I’m Starting a New Chapter in Purpose-Led Marketing at Beacon Fostering
Beacon Fostering are delighted to welcome our newest recruit, as Carolyn Williams joins the Beacon Fostering family! Carolyn has written a few…
Supporting Neurodivergent Children in Foster Care: Practical Approaches and Understanding
Fostering a neurodivergent child—such as one with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing differences—requires extra understanding, flexibility, and advocacy. But it’s also an…
Supporting Birth Family Contact: Navigating Visits, Emotions & Boundaries
Maintaining safe contact with birth families can be incredibly important for foster children, but also emotionally complex. Foster carers play a crucial…
Outdoor Play & Nature Time: Harnessing Local Green Spaces to Support Wellbeing
Being a foster carer in the North West offers you wonderful opportunities to connect foster children with inspiring green spaces close to…
What to Expect in Your First Week as a Foster Carer
Starting strong in your fostering journey The first week of fostering can feel overwhelming—but it’s also the foundation for a meaningful relationship….
Understanding Therapeutic Fostering: What It Is and Why It Matters
Therapeutic fostering is a specialist form of foster care that provides extra support for children who have experienced significant trauma, neglect, or…
Can I Foster If I Rent My Home?
Owning a home is not a requirement One of the most common myths about fostering is that you need to own your…
Fostering Excellence: Beacon Fostering Panels in 2025
Beacon Fostering held our most recent panel on 23rd June 2025, and we’re really pleased to report it was a resounding positive success…
Ofsted Registration
Beacon Fostering is successfully registered with Ofsted as an approved independent fostering agency. Our official Ofsted provider record (URN 2793200) confirms that we…
Digital Safety for Foster Children: A Guide for Foster Carers
In today’s world, many foster children arrive with smartphones, social media accounts, or access to gaming platforms. For carers, understanding digital safety…
Foster Care Fortnight Day 11: Reasons to Foster with Beacon Fostering
In the heart of the UK’s social care system, foster carers play a vital role in providing vulnerable children with the safety,…
Foster Care Fortnight Day 10: UK Celebrities Who Grew Up in Foster Care
At Beacon Fostering, we know that growing up in foster care can present enormous challenges – but we also know it can…