Here at FCA we have been matching children with loving families for over thirty years. This Foster Care Fortnight, we’re exploring just how much of a difference a loving foster home can make, and hearing from our children what makes FCA special to them.
The power of foster families
Children need to spend time with foster families for a wide variety of reasons, but while every child in foster care’s circumstances are different, they all share one thing in common— the need for a safe family home where they can receive loving guidance from reliable, caring adults.
Our foster parents receive excellent training so that they can do the day-to-day work of supporting children to thrive in all areas of their life. Foster parents support children to heal from trauma, navigate their emotions and develop deep bonds with the people around them.
The incredible work which a foster parent does can change a child’s entire life trajectory, giving them new opportunities and a healthy environment where they can learn to express themselves and form their identity. The support of a loving foster home can set children up for a bright future, improving their life prospects and helping them to achieve their dreams.
Celebrating the difference you make
Each and every day our foster parents are making a huge difference to children’s lives, not only in the present, but by setting them up for a fantastic future. Let’s hear from some of the amazing children here at FCA as they share what it’s like to live with their foster parents.
“Life is amazing right now, because I feel loved!”
“I like my foster parents and living in my foster home because it’s warm and we get to play on our bikes together.”
“When I moved into care it was devastating. I always felt sad and angry. Now that I live with my foster parents, I love my life.”
It’s so wonderful to hear from our young people and to celebrate their successes. Sadly, not every child within the care system is able to enjoy the support of a loving foster family.
The number of foster parents across England has continued to drop since the covid-19 pandemic, with a decrease of 18% of newly approved foster parents between the years 2020-2024. That’s why we’re always encouraging passionate and caring people to consider becoming a foster parent.
How we support our foster families
Here at FCA we’re proud to support and uplift our foster families a variety of ways, including:
- Using careful matching to help ensure everyone in the family home feels happy and secure
- A generous fostering allowance so that you can give your best to your foster children
- Regular events where your whole family can find support, like support groups for foster parents and participation groups for children
- Recognizing children’s achievements through our regular children’s newsletter and certificates
- Hosting free family fun days where everyone in your family can make new friends and have a great time
- A discount’s scheme so that you can enjoy more family days out and get great deals from shops including supermarkets and clothing stores
See our most recent news stories to find out what fantastic events have been happening here at FCA, from our most recent ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating to our nationwide singing contest, The Big Sing Off!
What our foster parents say about FCA
We asked a handful of our amazing foster parents what makes FCA special to them. They shared:
“I’ve always said that I can be myself with FCA. The children get on well with the agency, and they feel at home when they go on outings. It’s like a big family, and that’s something I’ve always wanted to be a part of.”
-Karen, foster mum
“We have been supported well by FCA and specifically our Supervising Social Worker. We have enjoyed the journey so far and look forward to welcoming many more children to our home in the future. If you are thinking about fostering and have the space then we would say go for it as when you start to see the positive impact you are making to children’s lives you will get such a warm feeling that cannot be described.”
– Parveen and Imraz, foster parents
“FCA really go the extra mile to support us so that we in turn can give our best to the children. We found FCA at the end of May last year, and things have been amazing ever since. Being with FCA has been like chalk and cheese compared to our other experiences. It took us some time to find the right fostering agency for us, but I’m so glad we took the leap.”
- Tracy, who recently transferred to FCA
Is it time to transfer to a new fostering agency?
If your current fostering agency isn’t providing you with the support your family deserves, find out what FCA can do for you.
Are you ready to learn more about fostering?
If you’ve ever thought about fostering, there’s no better time than now to become a foster parent with FCA.
As an FCA foster parent you’ll receive tons of support, including a generous fostering allowance, to ensure that you can give children the very best lives possible. Contact our team today to learn more about how to get started.
