General
Foster Care Fortnight Day 9: Similarities and Differences Between Local Authorities and Fostering Agencies in the UK
In the UK, the fostering system comprises two primary types of providers: local authorities (LAs) and independent fostering agencies like ourselves (IFAs)….
Foster Care Fortnight Day 8: Apply to Become a Foster Carer with Beacon Fostering – Or Transfer to Join The Beacon Fostering Family Family
Are you passionate about making a difference in a child’s life? Whether you’re new to fostering or an experienced carer looking for…
Foster Care Fortnight Day 7: Types of Fostering
Fostering isn’t a one-size-fits-all arrangement. Children and young people in care come from diverse backgrounds and have different needs—emotional, physical, and practical….
Foster Care Fortnight Day 6: Everyday Fostering Plans: Creating Stability in a Fostering Household
Fostering isn’t just about big decisions—it’s about the daily routines, small wins, and consistent care that help children feel secure and valued….
Foster Care Fortnight Day 5: Q&A session
Ready for a Q&A Session? Join Us Today! Are you curious about fostering with Beacon Fostering? Well, today is your chance to…
Foster Care Fortnight Day 4: Why Foster?
7 Powerful Reasons to Foster Children Every child deserves the chance to feel safe, loved, and supported. Yet thousands of children across…
Foster Care Fortnight Day 3: Inclusivity in Fostering
On Foster Care Fortnight Day 3, we are focusing on inclusivity in Fostering! At Beacon Fostering, we’re proud to work with foster…
Foster Care Fortnight Day 2: Fostering Myths vs Facts
Fostering is a vital component of the UK’s child welfare system, providing care and stability to thousands of children in need. However,…
Foster Care Fortnight 2025!
It’s Foster Care Fortnight – the UK’s biggest awareness raising campaign for fostering! Over the next two weeks from the 12-25th May,…
Beacon Fostering Are Recruiting Foster Carers in Stoke-on-Trent
On Wednesday 14th May, members of Beacon Fostering’s recruitment team will be attending a job’s fair, led by The Bridge, held at…
Representing Beacon Fostering At Liverpool Jobs Fair
Our foster carer recruitment team, led by Jack Gill, recently attended Liverpool Job Fair on Friday 2 May. This was held at…
Increased Fostering Minimum Allowances
With the new tax year having started recently from 6 April 2025, the new increased minimum fostering allowances for children and young…
Siblings in foster care – keeping children together
When children come into care, this is a challenging time and can be difficult for many. This is why the family bonds…
Supporting a Foster Child’s Education: A Guide for Beacon Fostering Families
Education plays a crucial role in shaping a child’s future, and as a foster parent, you are a key part of that…
Embracing Faith in Fostering: Respecting Beliefs and Creating a Supportive Home
Faith can be a deeply personal and powerful source of strength—especially during life’s more challenging moments. For many people entering the world…
Celebrating Easter With Your Foster Child!
Easter is a special time of year for many families—an uplifting celebration filled with faith, tradition, and togetherness. Church services, Easter egg…
Helping Your Foster Child With Their Homework
In your role as a foster parent, you can actively support homework, which will benefit your child’s academic trajectory. Giving homework advice…
What Should My Foster Child Call Me?
It’s best to introduce yourself using the name you want the youngster to call you when they first arrive at your house….
Beacon Fostering Secure Sponsorship With Local Football Club
We are delighted to announce that we have agreed to sponsor local grassroots football team in Manchester, Withington Wanderers F.C. Withington Wanderers…
Horse Therapy Benefits for Children and Young People in Foster Care
Today is Gold Cup day at Cheltenham Races! Horses can have a great impact on children and young people living in foster…
When is Foster Care Fortnight 2025?
The Fostering Network’s annual Foster Care Fortnight campaign aims to increase awareness of foster care and demonstrate the positive life-changing effects of…
Lloyd Kelly: Foster Care Story
From Foster Care to playing Champions League Football for Juventus in Turin. This is Lloyd Kelly’s story. Many people will know Lloyd…
Honouring Foster Carers on International Women’s Day
The 8th March 2025 is International Women’s Day. Today, it is important to recognise the great contributions that women have made to…
Understanding DBS Checks for Foster Parents
Fostering is essential because it offers a secure, caring home to children who are unable to remain with their biological relatives. A…
Support Networks for Foster Carers
Numerous foster carers have access to their own support systems, which are composed of friends, family, and contacts in the local community….
Can I Foster if I’m Single?
Depending on your unique situation, including if you work, the age of your children and their level of need on you, and…
Can You Foster With a Criminal Record?
Having a criminal past does not automatically make you unable to work as a foster carer. Your application process takes into account…
Can You Foster a Child if You Have a Dog?
Many people have misconceptions about pets and fostering, particularly regarding the kinds of animals that are acceptable in homes. However, what is…
Why Should You Foster?
With the current national shortage of foster carers, it is a necessity for more foster carers across the country in order to…
Transferring Fostering Agency – FAQ’s
Can I switch foster agencies? Yes, you can move from your local authority to Beacon Fostering or another fostering organisation. Overall, this…
Do Foster Carers Have To Pay Council Tax?
A frequently asked question in fostering is ‘do foster carers pay council tax? Within this blog, we will be concentrating on council…
LGBTQ+ History Month and Fostering in the LGBTQ+ Community
February is LGBTQ+ History Month, an annual observance that celebrates the rich history and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community. Within this blog…
Hobbies for Children in Foster Care
Children and young people have talent. Believe us, during our tenure as a foster agency, we have witnessed the most amazing occurrences….
An Overview of the Fostering Process
A summary When a child or young person’s needs or reasons for entering foster care are determined or communicated to professionals, the…
Understanding Fostering Tax Relief and Record-Keeping
You are considered self-employed when you foster and need to register with HMRC. For the children and youth placed with you, you…
Differences Between Fostering Agencies and Local Authorities
Within this blog we will highlight the differences between fostering agencies and local authorities… Local Authorities All children in the care system,…
Coffee and Fostering Information Session, 30th January in Wythenshawe!
Beacon Fostering are hosting a coffee & fostering information session in Wythenshawe on Thursday 30th January 2025 If you are interested in…
Foster Carer Recruitment Targets
Seventy-five percent of the 100,437 children in care in the UK today reside with foster families. Due to the inability to find…
Beacon Fostering: Meet the team!
At Beacon Fostering, we have a real family ethos as we strive for our foster carers to feel as though they are…
Coffee and Fostering Information Session, 23rd January in Liverpool!
Beacon Fostering are hosting a coffee and fostering information session in Liverpool on Tuesday 23rd January. If you are interested in fostering…
Happy New Year from The Beacon Fostering Family!
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year from all of us at Beacon Fostering! Throughout 2025, Beacon Fostering remains intent on…
How can friends and family support foster carers?
If you are considering fostering, you might be curious about the involvement of friends and family within the household. Can they participate…
Merry Christmas from Beacon Fostering
Merry Christmas from all the team at Beacon Fostering! Christmas is a great time to not only consider fostering but also to…
Tips for your first Christmas with your foster child
For many children, Christmas represents a thrilling season characterised by gifts, festive decorations, and cherished moments with family. However, this experience can…
What happens at fostering panel?
During the fostering application process, potential foster carers are required to have a meeting with a ‘fostering panel.’ This may either be…
Will fostering impact my benefits?
Can you foster whilst receiving benefits? Yes, it is indeed possible to foster while receiving benefits, and this should not hinder your…
Emergency foster care
What is emergency fostering? Emergency fostering refers to the placement of children who are at an immediate risk into temporary foster care…
Beacon Sporting Chance
At Beacon Fostering our team are extremely passionate about sport and we believe that every child deserves an equal opportunity to take…
Being care experienced as a protected characteristic
Under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal to unlawfully discriminate against those based on a ‘protected’ characteristic….
Applying to be a foster carer
Are you interested in fostering? Do you want to apply to foster with Beacon Fostering but you are unsure how to? During…