beacon fostering
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…
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Transferring To Beacon Fostering
Can I switch foster agencies? Yes, you can move from your local authority to Beacon Fostering or another fostering organisation. Overall, this…
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…
Personal development and training with Beacon Fostering
We place a high priority on the training and personal growth of every Beacon Fostering caregiver. An annual training plan that builds…
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…
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…
Fostering Support Groups
Participation in support groups is a crucial aspect of the development of all Foster Carers. You have the flexibility to join any…
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 training does Beacon Fostering offer?
The personal development and training of each Beacon Fostering carer is a key priority for our organisation. We will collaborate with you…
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…
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…
Fostering in TV & Film
For many years, TV series and films have featured themes related to fostering and foster care. These TV shows and films have…
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…
Fostering Myths
There are many misconceptions when it comes to fostering. During this blog, we are going to debunk some common fostering myths! Myth…
Celebrities who were fostered
In 2023, there were over 100,000 children and young people in foster care. There are many success stories in fostering. Many of…
What is Respite Fostering?
Respite fostering gives other foster parents or birth families a temporary, much-needed break. By becoming a respite foster carer, you enable a…
Why is there a shortage of foster carers?
Across the country we have experienced a loss of over 1,000 fostering households in the last 18 months. It is commonly known…
Criteria For Becoming A Foster Carer
Who can foster? Fostering should be inclusive and diverse and anyone can have the potential to be a foster carer. When it…
What is Specialist Fostering?
Specialist fostering requires understanding, patience and the ability to allow young children to express their emotions, but what is specialist fostering? What…
Do I need qualifications to become a foster carer?
A common misconception when it comes to fostering is individuals who believe they cannot foster as they have no qualifications. You DO…
Children’s home numbers are up and foster carers continue to be required
There has been recent data shared by Ofsted on the number of children’s homes being operated to support children and young persons….
Do foster carers pay tax?
One question we are frequently asked is whether or not foster carers are required to pay tax on their carer payments. It…
What is the average pay for foster carers?
The average pay for foster carers is difficult to understand as there is no requirement for fostering agencies or local authorities to…
What is the hardest part of fostering?
What is the hardest part of fostering? Fostering can have a profound emotional impact, both positively and negatively. In this blog, we’ll…
What do foster children require the most?
Are you interested in fostering? It is important to be aware what it means to be a foster carer and what the…
Fostering Siblings
Have you ever thought about fostering siblings? When any child goes into foster care, it is extremely tough for them, but this…
Is Fostering A Good Career?
There is currently a shortage of foster carers across the country. During this blog we will be discussing whether fostering is a…
Two Online Fostering Information Sessions with Beacon Fostering!
Beacon Fostering have two Online Fostering Information Sessions coming up, targeting people in Preston, Liverpool and surrounding areas. With a shortage of…
Can I work and be a foster carer?
If you are in work, whether this is self-employed or through employment, the area to look at here is if you would…
At What Age Can I Be A Foster Carer?
When considering being a foster carer, this is a relevant question as you may feel you are too young or possibly too…
What are the types of fostering providers?
The provision of foster care for children and young persons to support their well being is from the hard work and commitment…
Beacon Fostering are recruiting foster carers in Bury
Beacon Fostering is focusing locally on the support and recruitment of foster carers in Bury, Lancashire. Simon, Director at Beacon Fostering commented…
Fostering with Pets!
Can I be a foster carer if I have pets? In this blog we aim to inform you about fostering with pets….
Looked After: A Childhood in Care – Ashley John Baptiste
Ashley John Baptiste, a broadcaster and journalist for the BBC, had a different upbringing to many of his colleagues and others in…
How to Switch Fostering Agencies?
One question we regularly get asked, is from foster carer’s who are interested in switching fostering agencies to join Beacon. Switching fostering…
Welcome to Beacon’s Fostering Panel – David, Panel Member
Hello, my name is David Decorte and I am an independent member of Beacon’s Fostering Panel as well being a member of…
Welcome to Beacon Fostering’s Panel Chair – John Terry
I qualified as a Social Worker in 1988, and since then have worked in a variety of social work roles, including: Probation,…
Local support needed for Preston area! Start your fostering journey if you are local to Preston!
Beacon Fostering has a targeted focus on the Preston area and supporting foster carers locally. Your fostering agency has a resource centre…
Fostering in Blackpool today! How can you make a difference?
Blackpool in Lancashire shares the fostering challenges of many other Local Authorities across England and indeed its neighbouring areas including Preston and…
Fostering vs Adoption
There is often some confusion in differentiating between fostering and adoption. Within this blog, I will attempt to make understanding the differences…
Promoting Fostering!
To build on the good work and activities from Foster Care Fortnight, we are keen to continue to raise the awareness of…
Rob Burrow – A Beacon of Hope!
At Beacon Fostering, we would like to share our best wishes and thoughts to the family and friends of Rob Burrow following…
Fostering recruitment hubs go live!
The Government plan and initiatives through “Stable Home, Built on Love” are now taking effect and being implemented. This is with the…