Voices of Fostering

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a heartfelt episode of "Voices of Fostering" as we welcome back Serwari, a dedicated foster carer with over a decade of experience. In this candid conversation, Serwari shares her journey through the joys and challenges of fostering, the impact of personal loss, and the strength she finds in her community and faith. Discover what it means to open your home an...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the creative journey of Robert and his husband David—foster carers, children’s book authors, and illustrators. In this episode of Voices of Fostering, Helen chats with Robert about how their experiences inspired them to write and illustrate children’s books that celebrate diversity, kindness, and the meaning of family. Learn about their creative process, the stories they...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for this heartfelt episode of Voices of Fostering as Helen sits down with Robert, a dedicated foster carer, to discuss his inspiring journey in fostering. Robert shares how he and his husband began their fostering adventure, the challenges and joys they've experienced, and the importance of keeping an open mind when welcoming children into their home. Discover insight...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for this inspiring episode of Voices of Fostering as Helen sits down with Hazel, a dedicated Carer Recruitment Officer from National Fostering Group. Hazel shares her personal journey from working in travel to finding her calling in fostering, and offers invaluable insights into the assessment process, the different types of fostering (including parent and child placements...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another heartfelt episode of Voices of Fostering! In this episode, host Helen sits down with Joanne and her sons, Max (16) and Oliver (12), to share their inspiring journey as a fostering family. Discover what it’s really like to open your home to foster children—from the initial decision and assessment process, to welcoming their first placements, and the everyday joys...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another episode of Voices of Fostering! In this episode, we are joined by Julie, a dedicated team support worker from National Fostering Group. Julie shares insights into her role, which involves organising events for children and providing one-on-one support for fostering families.  She also discusses the challenges new foster carers face, the rewarding experiences in...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this heartwarming episode of Voices of Fostering as we sit down with Derek, a dedicated foster carer who, along with his wife Carol, has been fostering for nearly 20 years. Derek shares their journey, challenges, and the rewarding moments of fostering 29 children over the years. Discover the motivations behind their commitment, their experiences with various children, a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Voices of Fostering Podcast, host Tim is joined by Meshak, a trainer at the National Fostering Group. Meshak discusses his multifaceted role, which includes developing and delivering training for foster carers and colleagues, with a key focus on empowerment and mental health.  The conversation covers the innovative and supportive methods used to train foster...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Voices of Fostering Podcast, we are joined by Gill, a panel advisor with over 30 years of experience in social work within fostering. Gill delves into her role, explaining the function and importance of the foster care panel in the approval process of foster carers. The discussion provides a comprehensive overview of what prospective foster carers can expect...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Voices of Fostering podcast, we are joined by acclaimed author Patrice Lawrence. Patrice shares her compelling journey to becoming an author, rooted in her experiences of being privately fostered and growing up in a multi-ethnic family.  She discusses the influence of fostering on her writing, the challenges of representation in literature, and how books can...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Voices of Fostering, we sit down with Ashley John-Baptiste–a Cambridge graduate and BBC presenter–to discuss his extraordinary journey from foster care to academic and professional success. Ashley shares deeply personal stories of his experiences growing up in various foster homes, the impact of dedicated foster carers like 'Joyce,' and his transition...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Voices of Fostering Podcast, Tim interviews Valda, a dedicated foster carer from London. Valda shares her journey of becoming a foster carer alongside her husband Richard, having started officially in 2016.  She discusses the transition from their previous careers, their informal mentoring of children in need, and the challenges and rewards of fostering. Val...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Voices of Fostering podcast, host Tim welcomes Joann, a foster carer assessment manager at National Fostering Group. Joann provides a detailed overview of her role and what a typical day looks like, emphasising the variety and the unique challenges of her work.  She discusses the essential qualities and experiences of successful foster carers and delves into...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartwarming episode of Voices of Fostering, we sit down with Serwari, a dedicated foster carer with over 12 years of experience. Serwari shares her incredible journey, from overcoming personal challenges to fostering children from diverse backgrounds, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.  She discusses her initial apprehensions, valuable support from social wo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Voices of Fostering, we chat with Paul, a foster carer who is just over a year into his fostering journey.  Paul shares the motivations and inspirations that led him and his wife, Paula, to become foster carers. He discusses the challenges and adjustments they've made in their lives, especially in caring for a young boy with autism.  Paul gets candid about...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this episode of Voices of Fostering as we speak with foster carers Lloyd and Mary about their journey since transferring to National Fostering Group. Discover what inspired them to start fostering, the challenges they've faced, and how their past careers influenced their decision. Learn about their experiences fostering children with specific needs, the support the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Voices of Fostering, we welcome back Pat, a dedicated foster carer who shares her emotional journey over the past year.  Despite facing significant challenges, Pat's resilience and the support from her fostering agency helped her through. Pat talks about the ups and downs of fostering, including successfully integrating routines and addressing anger issues...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Voices of Fostering, we dive into the Mockingbird Program, an innovative fostering model based on the philosophy that it takes a village to raise a child. Hosts Darren, a foster carer, and Kate from Heath Farm, explain how the program works, its benefits for both children and carers, and why it has been successful for over a decade.  Learn about the community-dr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Voices of Fostering, we sit down with Ali, a dedicated foster carer with 34 years of experience. Ali shares her journey into fostering, inspired by her mother's difficult post-war childhood in the care system.  Her story highlights the profound importance of empathy and meticulous care in fostering, especially for children with disabilities. Ali provides in...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this episode of Voices of Fostering as we talk to Tariq, a passionate foster carer with over 15 years of experience. Tariq shares his journey into fostering, influenced by his brother's long-term commitment, and the rewarding experiences of providing a loving home to vulnerable children, primarily from the Muslim community.  Tariq also addresses the importance of r...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Voices of Fostering, we are joined by Barney, a foster carer of 16 years. Barney shares his inspirational journey from being a solo carer to fostering alongside his husband. He discusses his background, the influence of his parents who also fostered, and his transition from being cabin crew to a fulfilling life in fostering.  Barney opens up about the challenges...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Voices of Fostering, we are joined by Tim, a dedicated support worker from the National Fostering Group. Tim shares insights about his role, the challenges faced by foster children, the importance of building trust, and the immense support network available to foster carers.  Tim also addresses common misconceptions about fostering and highlights the rewarding a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Voices of Fostering,' Helen interviews Fiza, a dedicated foster carer for over 10 years. Fiza shares her journey from discovering the concept of fostering to fostering with her husband and birth children. She discusses the influence of her neighbour in her decision to foster and how fostering has impacted her family.  Fiza provides insights into the c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Voices of Fostering, Garreth and his daughter Maya share their personal experiences and insights from 14 years of being a fostering family. They discuss the challenges and rewards of fostering, including the emotional aspects of letting go of foster children, the benefits of fostering on birth children, and the role of support networks. Garreth also talks about...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Voices of Fostering,' we are joined by Lucy, a dedicated foster carer who shares her unique journey from growing up in a fostering family to becoming a foster parent herself. Lucy talks about the natural progression into fostering, the emotional highs and lows, and the immense support from her family. Learn about the profound impact fostering has had...