foster
I’ve Never Had My Own Children – Can I Foster?
Many people wonder if they can foster a child without having raised children of their own. The good news is yes –…
Things To Do As A Foster Family During Lent
Lent can be a meaningful time for reflection, routine and kindness in a foster family, whether or not you are practicing Christians….
Things To Do As A Foster Family On Valentine’s
Valentine’s Day can be a lovely opportunity for a foster family to focus on love, belonging and positive relationships, not just romantic…
How to Support a Foster Child’s Education and Development
Education plays a huge role in every foster child’s development, but it can also come with challenges. Many children enter foster care…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Fostering Myths
There are many misconceptions when it comes to fostering. During this blog, we are going to debunk some common fostering myths! Myth…
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…
Transferring to Beacon Fostering
Beacon Fostering doesn’t just accept new foster carers, we also accept current foster carers who are interested in joining the ‘Beacon Fostering…
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…
Supporting Foster Children With Complex Needs
Children with complex needs face a multitude of challenges on a daily basis, often requiring tailored support systems to navigate the complexities…
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…
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…
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…
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….
How long does it take to become a foster carer?
How long does it take to become a foster carer? A common question when considering becoming a foster carer and starting on…
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…
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 vs Adoption
There is often some confusion in differentiating between fostering and adoption. Within this blog, I will attempt to make understanding the differences…
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…
Simon’s Story – National Share A Story Month
Foster Care Fortnight has now ended, but as we are still in National Share a Story month, we thought we’d continue sharing…
Foster Care Fortnight – Priankar’s fostering story
During Foster Care Fortnight, we thought we’d share some of our team’s favourite fostering stories. Below, you’ll see our Interim Registered Manager…