Busting the Myths: FCA Cymru to Become a Not-for-Profit Fostering Agency

 

FCA Cymru, has been delivering foster care in Wales since 1997.

By 2027, the Welsh Government will introduce new legislation that will ensure all looked after children in Wales are cared for by not-for-profit (NFP), charitable, or public sector providers. At FCA Cymru, we’re fully on board with this change and will become not for profit because we believe in putting children and foster families at the heart of everything we do.

We’ve done this before and we have done it well

This isn’t new territory for us. FCA has proudly operated as a NFP provider in Scotland and Northern Ireland for over 20 years. That means we already know what it takes to make this model a success because we’re already doing it.  Now, we’re bringing that same successful model to Cymru, ensuring that our foster parents and young people continue receiving the outstanding care, support and services they deserve now and beyond 2027.

Myth-busting time: clearing up the confusion

We know that change can sometimes cause uncertainty, so let’s bust some of the most common myths around about what this legislation means for FCA Cymru and our incredible community of foster parents.

Myth 1: FCA Cymru will cease to exist.

FALSE: FCA Cymru is fully embracing this change and will continue to fully support foster parents and young people across Wales, just as we always have. With over 20 years of not-for-profit experience in other parts of the UK this is something we are very familiar with, we’re well-prepared and excited to step into this new chapter.

Myth 2: Foster parents will be forced to transfer to local authorities.

FALSE: FCA is fully committed to our foster parents and the young people in our care, that’s why we’re proudly embracing this new legislation and transitioning to a not-for-profit organisation. As we make this change, nothing will change for our foster parents, whether you’re already with us or just starting out. You’ll continue to receive the same high-quality support and services you know and trust. And just to be clear, there’s absolutely no requirement for foster parents to transfer to a local authority.

Myth 3: Foster parents will no longer be able to look after the children in their care.

FALSE: The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring continuity of care for children. Since FCA Cymru will be a not-for-profit provider, our existing children won’t be affected. Foster families will continue their vital role in providing loving homes for children already in their care.

Myth 4: Everything will change at FCA after 2027.

FALSE:  From the perspective of our foster parents and young people, nothing will change. There will be no changes to our training, support, support groups, benefits, finances, events or teams (or anything else) and there will still be the same passion for making a difference.
The changes that are being introduced by the Welsh government in 2027 will alter the way FCA Cymru, as an independent agency, is structured, but will have no impact on the quality of the service and support that we offer to our foster parents or the young people in our care.

So, what can you expect going forward?

As we transition into a not-for-profit agency in Wales, here’s what stays exactly the same:
• 24/7 support from your dedicated supervising social worker.
• Excellent foster care allowances, with access to our bonuses and rewards.
• Regular placement opportunities with Welsh local authorities.
• A truly child-centric approach with wrap-around support.
• All the family events, activities, and support groups you know and love.
• The same friendly, experienced and supportive team and management team who are always by your side.

Thinking of fostering in Wales? There’s never been a better time.

If you’re thinking about starting your fostering journey, you’ll be joining a passionate, supportive, and trusted community that’s here for you every step of the way.

We’re here to help. Get in touch with our friendly team today and be part of something that’s making a real difference now and into the future.

 

More about what the move to NFP means for foster parents…

If you’re an existing foster parent with FCA Cymru or looking to foster with us, find out exactly what this move to NFP means as we bust some myths around the change in the legislation.

Read More

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Strengthening Inclusion in Thames Valley

Enhancing Inclusion in Thames Valley

Our Fostering Practice Transformation and Safeguarding Manager, Nichola, recently joined the FCA Thames Valley social work and participation team to review the region’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives. Here’s a highlight of the day’s discussions and progress.

Team members Kate, Jess, and Michaela recently begun developing an EDI strategy for the region, and we reviewed it together. We ensured the strategy was specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, while staff also contributed valuable ideas.

Next, we focused on data. The Thames Valley team does an excellent job of ensuring that young people’s details, including identity and ethnicity, are accurately recorded on Charms. We also reviewed cross-cultural audits and highlighted outstanding examples of our foster parents ensuring the individual needs of children and young people are met. The region excels at utilising the strengths and experiences of our foster parents to support  their peers in the bespoke needs of our children.

Next, we talked about how we reach our children who are pre or non-verbal. The team shared their social work toolkit they have which includes puppets, white boards and pens and will shortly include playdough and clay. Social workers spoke passionately about the skill of observation, getting holistic feedback and building relationships to get the voice of the child who finds it hard to communicate whether or not they feel safe and happy. Jess also shared she is learning Makaton giving her more ways to communicate with our children and young people.

Jess then discussed the SEN activities offered in the region.  These activities supplement those already offered but are specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of some of our young people in the region.  There is also a WhatsApp group for our foster parents supporting children with disabilities.

I  shared an article I had read on intersectionality. The Oxford Dictionary defines intersectionality as ‘the interconnected nature of social categorisations such as race, class, and gender, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage’. We talked about how we need to be aware of the many layers of discrimination our young people may face and noted how a question about it is now included in our cross cultural audit tool.

We came away feeling proud of what we are already achieving and excited for the next steps we will take. EDI runs through all of our work and it was good to regroup and reflect on what we all do together

 

Empowering Inclusion in the North East

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Takeover in the North East

This week, our Practice Transformation and Safeguarding Manager, Nichola, joined our North East team for an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) takeover which was a day filled with meaningful discussions and great ideas!

First up a refresher on our FCA Vision, Mission and Values, setting the tone for the day.  Looking ahead to our 2025 strategy, the team suggested ways to celebrate minority festivals for our children with Hungarian, Polish, Brazilian, and Lithuanian heritage to name a few. Our Participation Officer, Christie, is already researching Hungarian Revolution Day and Brazilian Carnival days to make sure we embrace and educate on diverse cultures. Plus, young people can even earn an AQA unit award for learning about another culture.

We then reviewed the data we have on our recording systems and were pleased to see only a few gaps in religious information, which the team is now addressing. This reflects our commitment to keeping accurate, inclusive records for all our children.

We also looked at cross-cultural audits showcasing some great examples of how our amazing foster parents in the North East meet the cultural needs and support children who are of a different heritage/religion/ethnicity from themselves. It was great to see our foster parents linking up with others who have the knowledge and expertise in certain areas – both within the region and also the wider community.

We explored how to capture the views of pre/non-verbal children. Social workers talked about observations and using the social work toolkit while Christie talked about some tools she used and then made contact with the participation team in Midlands around the software they use.

A fantastic day with plenty of insights, collaboration and progress! Cementing our Vision, Mission and Values to be inclusive and constantly learning how to improve.

FCA Midlands Championing Equality

Championing Equality: Our EDI Takeover at the FCA Midlands Management Meeting

Our Practice Transformation and Safeguarding Manager, Nichola, attended the FCA Midlands Management Team meeting, to lead on an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) takeover. Here’s a recap of the day.

We had an agenda and started off reminding ourselves of our FCA Vision, Mission and Values;

  • Our Vision – To make a difference to children, young people and families that lasts a lifetime
  • Our Mission – We respect and promote a child’s racial, cultural and religious background and consider their gender and sexuality when finding the right family for them. We are proactive in promoting equality and tackling all forms of racism and prejudice in order to help achieve a better society for our children and families to thrive.
  • Our Values – Security, safety and autonomy for our children, fostering families and staff.

We then examined our EDI Strategy to ensure we are meeting the needs of our children and young people. Next we reviewed how we are reporting information and ensured we have what we need on the system.

We then talked about some good examples – and that was the best bit! We covered culture, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, religion, gender identity and intersectionality. We have some great examples of how our foster parents and staff have gone above and beyond to ensure our children’s individuality is celebrated. A foster parent teaching English at home while he learns Arabic; our foster parents completing relevant training and doing their own research to support their young people; foster parents moving to another home to give their young person in a wheelchair more space; our participation staff using widgets to get the voice of the child about how they are kept safe and happy….we could have talked all day! Looking at the cross cultural we found even more examples of good practice. We also found ways we could improve and that was the aim of the meeting; we want to grow and develop our inclusivity.

We concluded the meeting with some actions for us all and excited for how we can improve as professionals – and lunch was lovely too!

“Fostering is by far the best and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”

Alice, who has an 11-year-old daughter of her own, began fostering in 2023 after a divorce upended her life, and she wanted a fresh start. Here, she shares how her fostering journey unfolded, the positive impact it continues to have on her daughter and how the support she receives from FCA has made fostering as a single parent the most rewarding thing she’s ever done.

New beginnings

Everyone’s journey into fostering is different. Some foster parents may have lived in foster care as children, been part of a fostering family, or met other foster parents, stirring up a desire to help vulnerable children themselves.  For some, it can be that life has taken them in an unexpected direction, leading to new opportunities and a fresh outlook on life. This was the case for Alice, she said:  “After a divorce, my life completely changed, and I wanted a fresh start. I moved to where I am now and ended up being a PA for someone in the area who was fostering. Part of my job was to help look after the children. I’d always thought, ‘Oh, I don’t think I could ever do that because how could I give a child back?’ But actually, in reality, it made me realise that, yeah, I could do it. And I wanted to do it.”

Sharing the journey as a family

When you foster, your whole family fosters. So, when Alice began seriously considering fostering, she knew she had to run the decision by her daughter, Alice said: “My daughter was really pro-fostering. She spent a lot of time with children my friend was fostering, helping look after them. I remember sitting down one day and saying, ‘How would you feel if we did something like that?’ And she was like, ‘I really want to!’”
“I think she was just dying to be some sort of big sister in whatever kind of capacity that looked like – whether it was biological or not. I think she just wanted to have someone she could help look after. So yeah, she was very proactive about wanting to do it.”

Fostering has positively impact Alice’s daughter, who has embraced her role as big sister to the young boy they’re fostering, Alice said: “They have such a good relationship. So it’s very much like a brother, sister dynamic. He goes to her for Cuddles and as soon as he sees her, his face lights up and she runs over to him and they play.”

“She absolutely adores him, she really does. She tells everybody about him, she even said to me this morning that when she tells people about him she says, ‘I don’t say Foster brother anymore. He’ll forever be my little brother, whether he’s with us or not.’ Which I think is lovely. That means she’d fully accepted him.”  “I think it has definitely taught her about patience and realising that other people need me as much as she might need me. She’s one of the most empathetic people.”

Choosing FCA

Once Alice decided to foster, she researched the application process, considering whether to apply with the local authority or an independent fostering agency, she said: “I ended up doing a deep dive on the web. I remember putting in things about fostering, fostering applications and trying to decide whether to go via the local council or a private company. I wanted to make sure that if I was going to do this, I was going do it right and have the support in order to do it right.  I was drawn to FCA’s website, and then from there, I sent a message on the website and started the ball rolling pretty much straight away.”

Alice wanted to join a fostering agency that truly supports foster parents on their journey, and FCA has not let her down, she explained: “Support has been amazing. My supervising social worker is so lovely – the job wouldn’t be half as easy if I didn’t have someone like her in my corner.”

“One major thing for me is that my daughter has got to feel comfortable because it’s not just about me, and lots of people visit my house for different reasons. When the social worker comes, she makes a fuss of my daughter. She always wants to speak to her and see how she is.”

“I go to a monthly support group with other local people who foster in my area. I attend courses, and we have attended days out with our little boy. We’ve gone to a farm and things like that. So you can meet other children. I just feel like, support-wise, I can’t criticise in any way.”

Treasured moments

The special moments in fostering often come from helping a child overcome their fears and persevering until they feel safe and confident enough to do something that once scared them. Alice shared one of her favourite moments: “One of the best moments of fostering would be the little boy that I have. He’s nonverbal, and he really didn’t like the bath. I don’t think he was used to being cleaned or anything like that. He used to screech and screech and screech. It took six weeks of me standing next to the bath with him, trying to tempt him to even sit in it.”

“I tried everything – you name it. I even started doing squats. We’d sit down next to the bath, and we’d all be there doing squats and things like that. I remember one day thinking, ‘We’re going to master this today’. And I don’t know why – I just felt it. I decided to make it fun and said, ‘Go on, you can do it!’ He thought it was funny, and then he did it.”

“He sat in the bath, and he played for over an hour. He didn’t just sit there terrified – he played. I cried, my mum cried, and my daughter cried. We all cheered. It was such a big moment for him. Now, it’s his favourite time of the day. As soon as he comes in from school, the first thing he wants to do is go in the bath.”

Alice’s advice

If you’re thinking about fostering, Alice shared some advice for prospective foster parents, she said:

“Do a bit of a deep dive into it. If you know anybody who fosters, ask questions. It’s important to understand how you’ll deal with something because it won’t be all sunshine and rainbows.”

“Make a list of what you’re willing to accept because there will be tough times. What can you manage? What would you be OK with? Would you want to start toilet training again? Or would you prefer an older child without that side of it?”

“It’s about being honest with yourself, making a list of things, and just gathering as much information as you physically can to make an informed decision on what works for you.”

Could you foster?

If you’d like more information about becoming a foster parent with FCA or the support we offer single foster parents, we’d love to hear from you. Enquire with us today to learn more, or read more stories from real-life foster parents about their experiences.

Looking for a new career path?

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What makes a great foster parent: Lesley’s Story

We’re celebrating the achievements of Lesley, one of our foster mums who has been fostering for 22 years. In that time, Lesley has provided loving care to almost 200 children through different types of fostering, including long term care and short term care.  

A lifelong dream

Since she was a young teen, Lesley’s dream was to become a foster parent. She said: “I remember watching Band Aid when I was a teen, and that had a massive effect on me. I was so upset seeing how many children out there needed help, and I said then and there that when I grew up, I wanted to become a foster parent. Fast forward and life happened; I was married with three children of my own when a friend at work asked me what my ideal job would be. I told him about that long-ago dream of becoming a foster parent. He encouraged me to apply, and I’m so glad he gave me that push I needed.”

During her application, Lesley had some questions about who can foster. She said: “When the fostering advisor over the phone said that he was happy to move me forward with the process, I was so excited. I couldn’t believe that I would even be considered, to be honest. All that time I’d been held back by the belief that, even though I was so passionate about fostering, a fostering agency wouldn’t want someone like me as I’d had a difficult childhood.”

The power of empathy

Lesley’s personal experiences were far from the hindrance she worried they might be in her fostering journey. In fact, Lesley uses her own experiences to inform the way she helps the children and young people in her care. She said: “I’d worried that the challenges I’d faced growing up might make me unsuitable to be a foster parent, but in truth it’s been the opposite. I have a lot of empathy for the experiences of the children I care for, and I understand how they feel about certain things. It’s really all about being able to put yourself in their shoes. My own experiences have helped me to understand how some things are just not important to a child when they’re going through something traumatic. You can’t expect them to do well in school and have great manners, because all their energy is being consumed by trying to navigate through so much trauma.”

Lesley champions therapeutic parenting as a great way to connect with young people. She said: “I’m a big believer in a therapeutic, gentle approach to parenting. When a child’s behaviour is challenging, they aren’t trying to hurt you. It’s really not about the foster parents, it’s about what they’re going through. They don’t want to upset you. They don’t want to break the rules. They’re just really struggling and need extra support.”

Lifelong connections

Lesley has made many lifelong connections with the children she has cared for over the years. Her relationship with her youngest son, who is now an integral part of the family, is particularly significant. “My son came to me as a fostering emergency when he was just five months old. Initially this was only meant to be for a very short period of time. I vividly remember picking him up one day and singing ‘You are my Sunshine’ to him. He was looking up at me, just looking up into my eyes while I sang to him, and there was this instant love. My husband and I adopted him when he was 20 months old, and our family has been growing stronger together ever since.”

Though Lesley has provided many different types of foster care over the years, she specialises in fostering teenagers. She is currently caring for three young people, with the eldest staying with her in a ‘When I am ready’ arrangement.

“I feel like my strengths lie in caring for teenagers,” Lesley said. “I feel like my husband and I can really communicate with them. They’re also less taxing physically than younger children are which is something to consider as you get a bit older, and you can really have a laugh together and help these kids at a critical time. I keep in touch with lots of the kids we’ve cared for, including our first ever foster child, who has a great relationship with my son. Another young man who I looked after comes to visit every Christmas, which is just lovely. He says, ‘I can’t believe I didn’t want to live with you, and now I’d give anything to be back!’

Lessons from fostering

With over 20 years of fostering experience, Lesley has some fantastic advice for potential foster parents. She said: “Advice I’d give to new foster parents is this: firstly, pick your battles. Secondly, try and have a sense of humour, and don’t take things personally. Thirdly, be there for the child. Show them that you’re always on their side, and that you’ll be there to pick up the pieces when they do make mistakes. Don’t give up on them. Some kids have been rejected by everyone in their life, and it takes time for them to trust and feel safe with you. Show them that, no matter what happens, you’re still going to be there for them. That’s what makes a great foster parent.”

Fostering is an absolute roller coaster of emotions, and to be honest, there are probably as many low moments as there are high. That’s something to be prepared for if you’re considering fostering. You have to have inner strength. As a whole, dedicating my life to fostering has been really rewarding. I feel very, very lucky to do this work. I get emotional just thinking about it! I love what I do, and I feel proud of myself for doing it. I know teenage me would be so proud of what we’ve achieved.

Could you foster?

Lesley is a real shining light in our community, and we’re so inspired by her story and by all the foster parents just like her working hard each day to help children thrive.  Are you inspired by Lesley’s story and considering becoming a foster parent? If you’re interested in fostering, we’d love to hear from you. Enquire with us today to learn more, or read more stories from real-life foster parents about their experiences.

Looking for a new career path?

Find out how you can make a difference…

By Phone

Call a member of our friendly fostering team and they’ll be able to answer all your questions

0800 023 4561

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Have a chat with one of our dedicated fostering professionals

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Celebrating children’s achievements

FCA Yorks and Lincs Annual Achievements Day Event: A Celebration of Success

Our Annual Achievements Day event was once again a highlight of the social calendar for FCA Yorks and Lincs, bringing together children, foster parents, and the regional team to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of children of all ages. The day held at a fantastic venue was filled with joy, laughter and inspiration as nominees were recognised and awarded for their achievements.

The event featured heart warming moments captured in photos, including children and foster parents dancing, staff enjoying the Macarena, and Participation Officer Sarah meeting British former professional boxer Johnny Nelson.

We extend our gratitude to everyone who made this day so special. The achievements of these incredible children remind us why this event is so important. Here’s to celebrating even more successes this year!

Here is some feedback from the day:

“Thank you to everyone for an amazing day at the Achievement Awards. It’s been wonderful hearing and reading about all the amazing children nominated and celebrating their success. Such inspirational speakers and a fabulous venue – the girls thought it was a palace!”

“Thankyou for a lovely day at the achievement day. It was lovely to celebrate all of our incredible children. S was so happy with her award and we are so proud of her and our two very new family member who only arrived late last night they cooed amazingly well and in true S style took them straight under her wing and not forgetting our fabulous teens who were apparently to cool to attend. Also a massive thankyou to Helen from the Mansfield team for taking us and bringing us home and helping with the LOTS of trips to the toilet!”

There’s always a need for more foster parents, as so many children in the UK are in need of the love and protection of a safe and nurturing home. If you’d love to join FCA and help us to transform the lives of children up and down the country, call us on 0800 098 4156 or fill in our enquiry form to become part of the difference which lasts a lifetime.

More blogs…

5 Reasons to Participate in the Big Sing Off

You may have already heard of The Big Sing Off, but if you haven’t, it’s our annual choir competition, similar to the X Factor and Last Choir Standing. Children, young people, foster parents, and staff come together for an unforgettable day of friendly competition, entertainment and fun.  

Our choirs start rehearsing months before the event in preparation for their performances. So, if you’re wondering whether you’d like to be involved next year, it’s time to start thinking about it now! Here are five reasons to join your region’s choir and participate in The Big Sing Off 2025.  

Big Sing Off

Why participate in The Big Sing Off? 

Meet new people 

The Big Sing Off is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people who share similar experiences to you. If you join a choir, you’ll meet regularly to practice your chosen song. On the day of the event, children and young people in foster care from all over the UK will travel to the Big Sing Off location, giving you plenty of chances to make new friends.  

Build your confidence 

Being part of a choir at The Big Sing Off means performing in front of an audience. While this may seem daunting, it could actually help you overcome stage fright and build your confidence. This experience will not only benefit you during school presentations but will also prepare you to ace job interviews in the future. 

Additionally, if you plan to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, performing in front of an audience will provide valuable practice and insight into what it may be like. 

Visit new places 

The Big Sing Off takes place in a new location every year, giving you opportunities to travel to new places and experience the specialities of the local community. This year, FCA Cymru won the bid to host the event in Wales. Hosts were dressed in traditional Welsh clothing and provided entertainment and activities based on their theme ‘The Greatest Showman’ and ‘Legends’. From circus-themed activities and workshops to candyfloss machines and magic mirror photo booths, each host region ensures you have a memorable experience. 

Have your say 

The Big Sing Off is all about you, so there are plenty of opportunities for you to have your say and showcase your creative ideas. This includes: 

  • Bid video – Children and young people from each region decide on their chosen theme before creating a video bid to host the event.  
  • Logo competition – every year, we run a logo competition for The Big Sing Off to reflect the year’s theme. The winning logo is then featured in the programme, leaflets, flags and more.  
  • Activities – The activities, entertainment, and food for the event are chosen by our children and young people. If you have an idea, we will listen and do our best to make it happen. 

Enjoy yourself 

Ultimately, The Big Sing Off is about having fun! Organisers Lisa and Sebu spend months bringing your ideas to life and ensuring everyone has an incredible day. The event is always full of surprises; this year, Britain’s Got Talent stars Afrikan Warriors wowed the audience with their acrobatics, and Welsh celebrities recorded good luck messages. At the end of the event, you’ll have a sense of accomplishment for performing in front of hundreds of people and memories for life.  

So, if you’d like to join your region’s choir, talk to your participation officer and start warming up those vocal cords. 

“Nothing compares to just how rewarding fostering is. There’s nothing like it.”

In 2018, Essex dad Steve stopped working to pursue his dream of fostering children who need a loving home.

After a long career Steve closed a number of businesses in 2018 and with his free time decided to foster, something he’d always wanted to do.

Steve said: “I’ve always been involved in children’s activities, from school governance to teaching first aid. I’ve also been interested in special educational needs and disabilities as our birth son has Aspergers.”

Alongside wife Maria, Steve is fostering two brothers aged 12 and 16 who have been with them  for the last four years. Steve continued: “We were approved to foster in 2019 as the time was right for us then. So I stopped working. My wife had started working after being a stay-at-home mum and raising our son so all in all it’s been a total role reversal for us.”

Steve’s foster children arrived just five days before lockdown as an emergency placement which was due to last four weeks, Steve said: “It was definitely a baptism of fire being thrown into lockdown so quickly, but we formed strong bonds as a family and really got to know each other. Now the boys don’t want to leave.”

Since their arrival, Steve and Maria have prioritised communication to help the boys come to terms with their pasts and be able to move forward, Steve said: “I’m a talker. I will talk about anything and have those really difficult conversations. In the beginning they weren’t able to talk about anything let alone what they’ve been through but now I can’t get them to stop talking!

“I look at how far these boys have come since they came to stay with us. They are totally different, well-balanced young men.”

Steve is also a foster parent rep for FCA Eastern across Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk, to provide support to other foster parents in the community.

He credits his ‘great support network of friends and incredibly supportive family’ with welcoming the foster children into their lives and making them feel like part of the family, something he thinks is essential for those thinking about fostering.

Latest government statistics show that across Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, there are 3,360 children in care, so more foster parents are urgently needed.

Steve encourages anyone who thinks they could make a difference to find out more, he said: “If one person hears my story or understands the difference they can make then that’s huge.

“One person might not seem a lot but that’s a huge difference to a child’s life. Fostering can definitely be frustrating, but nothing compares to just how rewarding it is. There’s nothing like it.”

There’s always a need for more foster parents, as so many children in the UK are in need of the love and protection of a safe and nurturing home. If you’d love to join FCA and help us to transform the lives of children up and down the country, call us on 0800 098 4156 or fill in our enquiry form to become part of the difference which lasts a lifetime.

 

More fostering stories:

Our Brightest Stars Shine at the Show-Stopping Big Sing Off 2024

Shining in the Spotlight

Each year we eagerly await The Big Sing Off, and this year’s show was even more magical than ever before! This year the event was hosted by FCA Cymru, who proudly welcomed 7 other choirs from across the UK to compete with them at the ICC centre for the coveted title of the winning choir. The event was a bold celebration of Welsh culture, with flags waving proudly and an introduction in Cymraeg from the main stage.

Our competition was hosted this year by two young people from FCA Cymru, helped along by our trio of charming Ringmasters, who did a fantastic job of introducing the acts and hyping up the crowd as they eagerly awaited our star performers.

The children of the Cymru choir chose brilliant themes for this year— ‘The Greatest Showman’ and ‘Legends.’

Little Legends

As our youngsters took to the stage to sing hits from legends including The Beatles, Katy Perry and Aretha Franklin, they were met with cheers and applause from a packed auditorium of supporters all waving flags. Their dazzling performances had the crowds singing along, laughing, and gasping in awe. Celebrities including popstars, Chesney Hawkes, H from Steps and fostering advocate Joe Swash sent their well-wishes to the children via video.

After performing, the children were treated to a whole host of activities, which included face painting, jewellery making, a magic act and the chance to learn some circus skills. Children also had the chance to meet some of their favourite characters, including Bluey and Peppa Pig. After all the singing and excitement, our choirs and their families enjoyed a well-deserved lunch, which included an enormous chocolate fountain, popcorn and freshly-spun candyfloss!

Helping out while having fun

After lunch, the audience were wowed as Britain’s Got Talent stars Afrikan Warriors took to the stage to amaze us all with a heart-racing acrobatics performance. Then it was time to win some fantastic prizes at the raffle, the proceeds of which raised over £500 for Comfort Cases UK, a charity which provides children in foster care with all the essentials they’ll need when moving to a new home, as well as comforting items they can treasure, such as teddy bears.

The CEO of Comfort Cases UK proudly took to the stage to thank everyone for their efforts in raising money for children, as well as to congratulate the choirs on their incredible performances.

The Big Sing Off

Bright smiles and magical memories

“Nothing beats seeing the smiles on the children’s faces,” said Laura, a new staff member who enjoyed her first outing to The Big Sing Off. “Lots of us work at a desk all day, so having the opportunity to come here and see the kids enjoying themselves with their foster families really brings our work to life. It makes you so proud to see the children happy and to see everything our foster families are achieving.”

And the winner is…

Our winning choir this year was FCA Northern Ireland, whose stand-out choir ‘Emerald Melodies’ flew all the way to Wales to wow the audience with their stunning performance of the Imagine Dragons song, ‘Believer,’ an inspiring tune about overcoming hardship and celebrating our resilience.

Their outstanding chorography left everyone blown away, including the judges, who crowned them the winners and invited them back onto the stage to treat us to another performance and to lead the audience in a sing-song. Their day of wowing the crowds didn’t stop there—on their triumphant flight back home to Northern Ireland, the passengers and crew of their plane even asked for a performance of their winning song!

As children left the auditorium, they were all given a medal to thank them for putting on the most amazing show, and cupcakes and balloons were handed out to take home. All in all, it was an incredible day, and everyone left with a huge smile on their face!

A great family day out

The Big Sing Off is just one of the many ways in which we bring everybody together to celebrate every single person who makes the FCA family so special. A huge congratulations to our winning choir, and to everyone who took part and made The Big Sing Off 2024 a day to remember. We hope to see you all next year for another outstanding show!

Interested in learning more about The Big Sing Off? Hear from our event organisers about what makes the event so special to children and their families.

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The Big Sing Off 2024 takes centre stage in Wales

The Big Sing Off 2024 comes to Wales

Choirs from across FCA rolled up to The Big Sing Off 2024 at the ICC Wales in Newport, Cymru on Saturday 28th September for a circus style extravaganza!
Ringmasters Managing Director John Platt, Operations Director Neil Morris and Mark Cartridge opened the show with a ‘Greatest Showman’ dance and then it was over to our choirs, made up of children and young people, foster parents and staff who wowed us with incredible vocals and choreography.

Each choir selected a song which they felt reflected the chosen theme of ‘Legends’ and performed to a crowd of 400 people.

Our children and young people, as always, were at the heart of the event with a number of them from our hosting region FCA Cymru co-presenting the event as well as performing in our second half.

We even had some special good luck messages from some Welsh celebrities! There was a range of Circus style activities and entertainment throughout the day including circus skills workshops, face painting, fairground games, popcorn and candy floss, carnival mask making, bubble workshops, magic mirror photo booths, meeting characters and so much more, all of which the children from Cymru had requested on their wish list for the event.

We were also wowed in the second half with a performance from world famous Afrikan Warriors who had us all on the edge of our seats with their amazing acrobatics!

A huge congratulations to FCA Northern Ireland’s ‘Emerald Melodies’ who were crowned the overall winners this year with FCA Yorks & Lincs ‘Y&L Stars’ taking second place and FCA Midlands ‘Kidz in the Midz’ taking third prize.

FCA Northern Ireland’s day of wowing the crowds didn’t stop there on their triumphant flight back home to Northern Ireland, the passengers and crew of their plane even asked for a performance of their winning song!

All of the choir performances were absolutely incredible. The effort and enthusiasm from everybody involved- children, young people, foster parents and staff was truly tremendous. All the choirs involved would have been very worthy winners.

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The Big Sing Off 2024

It’s that time of year again when children, young people, foster parents and staff from across our community come together to sing their hearts out in The Big Sing Off. Many details of The Big Sing Off are kept tightly under wraps to make the experience more magical for attendees.

However, we interviewed the event organisers, Sebu and Lisa, to learn more about the event’s history, purpose and the impact it has on children and young people in care. So, here is everything you need to know about our annual show-stopping event.

Big Sing Off

What is The Big Sing Off?

Sebu says, “The Big Sing Off is a cross between The X Factor and the BBC’s The Last Choir Standing. It’s about bringing families, children and staff together for a fantastic day of singing and fun. Each registration forms a choir and then attends the sing off to perform their chosen song in front of an audience (who are also the judges). The winning choir gets to perform their song again and the top three choirs go home with a lovey trophy. Everybody in each region comes together to practice over a period of months, building relationships and a sense of community.’

Lisa continues, “It’s important that everyone from across FCA and FCA Scotland continue to feel connected. So, this is another way of bringing registrations together. People from Northern Ireland fly in, we’ve got people travelling from Scotland and people crossing on ferries from the Isle of Wight. That’s how much they want to come. That’s how much it means to them.”

How has The Big Sing Off evolved?

Sebu explains, “The Big Sing off began as quite a formal event, but over the years, it has evolved to become fully child-centred. After the success of the Belfast Big Sing Off in 2017, we decided it would be wonderful if every region could have an opportunity to host the event.”

“We wanted children to be at the forefront of every decision about The Big Sing Off. So, we decided each region could put together a bid to host the event, with the children and young people from that region taking the lead by coming up with a theme and being part of the bid video.’

“The children have input in every decision we make, whether it be food, activities, entertainment or the logo. We believe it’s important for children and young people to have opportunities to see their ideas come to life.”

Lisa continues, “The Big Sing Off has moved from a very formal adult-driven event to the children and young people being absolutely at the centre. And it’s our job to honour their ideas and translate them into reality on the day.”

How does The Big Sing Off impact children and young people?

Sebu says, “The Big Sing Off is an opportunity for children to experience travelling on an aeroplane, going on a coach, being part of a whole community event. It also allows them to meet and connect with other children in foster care and realise they aren’t alone – there are other children with situations in common.’

Lisa says, “The children and young people are made to feel special. You hear positive stories, like a young person inspired to join a club and another learning to play the guitar. That is what the day is all about – sparking an interest in children to follow their hopes and dreams”.

What does The Big Sing Off mean to the hosting regions?

Sebu explains, “The hosting regions are always excited to welcome everyone, because they have a real sense of pride in their community and their local area. They are so happy when people visit their region that they go above and beyond to be welcoming.’

Lisa continues, “We even go as far as ensuring that we use local suppliers to source things like entertainment, so it’s truly authentic and highlights the specialities of the local community. It also means the money we spend goes back into that region.”

What does The Big Sing Off mean to staff?

Lisa says, “This year we have 37 people from central services volunteering and giving up part of their weekend to attend. Colleagues who work at central services are often removed from the children, and don’t often get to speak to foster parents directly. But, the Big Sing Off allows staff to see first-hand what a collective difference we make.

We can still contribute to the outcomes for those children and young people. Staff then go back and tell their teams how wonderful it is and become ambassadors for The Big Sing Off. So, we have this ever-growing number of people who want to come.”

What does the Big Sing off mean to you?

Sebu says, ‘When you go to the Big Sing Off or any event where our children and families are, it’s a reminder of why we do what we do. Although we aren’t frontline staff, we’re all here for the children. The Big Sing Off is more than just a fun day – it’s about looking around and seeing happy children and young people.’

Lisa says, “Making magic happen for the kids and seeing those beautiful moments when they have the confidence to perform on stage. That is what makes the months of planning and hard work worthwhile. We want to enable and empower children and young people to think, ‘I can do anything’.’

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The Big Sing Off 2023 travels ‘Around the World’ and raises money for charity

Choirs composed of children, foster parents and staff from around the country came together to take part in a singing competition, as well as raising money for charity.

Hosted by FCA Midlands, the Big Sing Off took place on October 7th at the Coventry Building Society Arena, bringing together the community to celebrate culture and diversity through music and fun-filled activities.

The event’s theme, ‘Around The World’, was chosen by children and young people in foster care in the region, and the logo for the competition was co-created by the winners of a children’s art contest, capturing the spirit of the vibrant event.

FCA Midlands’s Registered Manager and choir member, Kate Taylor, said: ‘We were thrilled to be the hosts of the Big Sing Off this year. Seeing our children and young people performing in their choirs is always a highlight. It was a wonderful day where everyone came together to celebrate culture and diversity through song and enjoy all the great entertainment and activities on offer.’

Not only was the event partially organised by local youngsters, four young individuals had the honour of co-hosting the event alongside Managing Director John Platt and FCA Operations Directors, Mark Cartridge and Neil Morris.

John Platt, FCA Managing Director, said: ‘Seeing everyone enjoying themselves and being part of a family team makes this one of my favourite days of the whole year. It’s spectacular!”

As well as celebrating the fostering community, the event helped the Midlands Youth Council to raise more than £350 for a bleed kit – a specialist trauma kit to help bystanders of an injury stop life-threatening bleeding – in memory of a young person who had tragically lost their life to knife crime. The kit, bought via the Daniel Baird Foundation, will be placed in a prominent place in the Coventry city centre and could be vital to saving lives.

Throughout the day attendees enjoyed a diverse range of activities, including face painting, magicians and balloon artists, henna artists, and a 360-degree photo booth. The event also featured a guest performance by Devon-based UK Taiko Drummers, whose energy and rhythmic beats captivated the audience.

A talented 12-year-old young person also from the Midlands delivered a moving performance of Rihanna’s hit song, ‘Diamonds’.

Ten choirs competed in the competition, all selecting songs that embodied the theme and performing to an enthusiastic crowd of over 400 people, consisting of children, young people, and foster parents. The musical repertoire included songs from ‘The Greatest Showman,’ ‘Status Quo,’ and ‘Glee’.

In the end, it was FCA South East’s ‘South East Diversity’ that was crowned the overall winner of this year’s ‘Big Sing Off,’ with FCA Northern Ireland’s ‘Emerald Melodies’ taking second place and FCA Cymru’s ‘Cymru yn rockio am byth’ taking third place.

FCA South East Registered Manager and choir member Caroline Ellis from South East Diversity said: ‘We all had such a fab time and everyone who performed on the day was incredible. I am so proud we brought home a trophy! The children were on such a high the whole way home. Such special memories made.’

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The Big Sing Off: A Celebration of Voices and Togetherness

Every year, Foster Care Associates, along with a couple of other independent fostering agencies, eagerly anticipates one special day that takes centre stage in our calendar – The Big Sing Off. It’s more than just an event; it’s a celebration of voices, unity, and unforgettable memories.

This event is more than just music; it’s about fostering a sense of belonging. It’s about creating memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. It’s about the joy of singing together, learning together, and growing together.

Big Sing Off

What is The Big Sing Off?

Imagine a day filled with heartwarming melodies, harmonious voices, and sheer enthusiasm, where choirs are not just groups of singers but representations of our children, young people, foster carers, and staff. The Big Sing Off is all about creating unforgettable moments through the magic of music and song. It’s like a fusion of the X Factor’s excitement and the camaraderie of BBC’s Last Choir Standing.

What makes this event even more special is that it’s a dynamic celebration that evolves each year. Different teams from across the country come together, each adding their unique twist and theme to the event. It’s a dynamic tapestry of creativity and talent that continues to astonish us year after year.

The heart of The Big Sing Off lies in its annual singing competition. It’s the stage where our children and young people step into the spotlight, showcasing their incredible talents. For them, it’s not just a performance; it’s a chance to embrace new experiences and connect with foster children from all corners of the UK. The applause, the cheers, and the sense of accomplishment – it’s all a part of this remarkable journey.

So, as we gear up for another year of The Big Sing Off, we’re filled with excitement and anticipation. We can’t wait to see what our talented teams will bring to the stage. The Big Sing Off isn’t just a competition; it’s a celebration of the beauty of fostering – of bringing voices together and creating a symphony of love and unity. Stay tuned for more updates and insights into this year’s event.

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The Big Sing Off 2022

We are so excited the Big Sing Off is back after a two year break.

Foster parents, staff, children and young people children from across FCA couldn’t wait to all get together in Peterborough for fun filled day of singing on Saturday 8th October.  The Big Sing Off is the biggest and most prestigious event in our FCA events calendar.  It is an unforgettable experience as we bring together choirs made up of our children, young people, foster parents and staff for a day of entertainment through music and song (think X Factor meets BBC Last Choir Standing!).

This year the theme for the Big Sing Off was  ‘Love and Peace’.

Big Sing off Logo

A total of 10 choirs from across FCA and Fostering People took part in the competition, singing songs from The Beatles, Carpenters and Foo Fighters. Each choir selected a song which they felt reflected the chosen theme and performed to a crowd of over 300 people.

Our children really are at the heart of the event with a range of activities over lunchtime including a photo booth, a love and peace message wall, face painting, magician, chocolate fountain. Joint hosts FCA Yorks and Lincs and Eastern were involved in the planning and children were tasked to work alongside the staff helping with co-presenting, providing the entertainment post lunch and selling raffle tickets to raise money for our chosen charity. The  Big Sing Off logo was designed by children from the hosting regions.

Congratulations to FCA Yorks and Lincs for taking second place and FCA North West on taking third prize. All of the choir performances were amazing.  The effort from everybody involved was truly tremendous well done.  All the choirs involved would have been worthy winners.
foster child drawning
Big Sing Off 2022
Big Sing off drawning
Bing sign off cupcakes
Bing sign off awards
Bing sign off walkway

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Joanne and Martyn’s Story

Meet Joanne and Martyn  Shaw from Wigan who have been foster parents with FCA since 2010.  The couple have also been carer ambassadors for FCA, talking to potential foster carers across the UK and recommending FCA to those who are thinking about fostering.

Martyn and Joanne open up about their fostering experiences and what led them to dedicate their lives to children and young people in need. Martyn said:

‘We initially discussed fostering when we found out that we couldn’t have children naturally. Before we started looking into it we talked it through with some of our friends. Not everyone was as supportive as we hoped they would be, however, a few good friends came on the journey with us and still support us today.

We began our search by looking on the internet and contacting a few agencies who came out to visit us. We weren’t very impressed by the support offered by them and expressed our concerns to Joanne’s cousin Maria who fostered at the time. She advised that we get in touch with her fostering agency FCA.

We contacted FCA and immediately they put us at ease. They were very friendly, upfront and honest answering all of our questions and concerns. From the get-go the entire process felt stress-free, which was great, a weight lifted from our shoulders.

Before fostering we both worked full time. Once approved as carers with FCA I left my job to foster full time whilst Joanne continued to work. Having recently decided to look after more than one child, however, she decided to focus on a career in fostering too and even went back into education to study Social Work at the University of Central Lancashire to strengthen her knowledge.’’

The couple speak about some of the children they have supported and looked after, and reflect on reactions they have received when talking about being foster carers. Martyn said:

‘We started our journey with FCA looking after a four-week-old baby for three months, following this short-term placement we then looked after an 11-year-old who stayed with us on a long-term fostering basis for six years until he turned 18 and has now moved on to independent living. Now that we have been approved to look after more than one child at a time we have three children staying with us who are eight, nine and ten years old.

We’ve experienced some really mixed reactions when people find out we foster. Some are curious and think we do a great job and others can be quite insensitive. We’ve been called stupid for looking after children who have challenging behaviour and some look at us as if to say fostering isn’t a proper job. We pay no notice to this as it just goes to show the lack of awareness amongst people when it comes to fostering. It’s this ignorance that makes Joanne and I feel strongly about our role as ambassadors for FCA shouting about the wonderful work we do for children and young people.

We’ve experienced so many wonderful memories from over the years. Our best fostering moment has got to be seeing our last placement leave school with GCSE level A* qualifications including a 99.9% attendance rate over the 5-year period. It’s moments like these that make it all worthwhile. We have however, faced some challenges over the years.

Our first 18 months fostering was particularly challenging. Joanne became unwell with cancer around the time that we started looking after a teenager with difficult behaviour. From not following house rules (like most teenagers) to making unfair complaints against us our long-term placement threw every challenge he could think of at us. This really tested us as a family and as carers but we got through it together and in the end it all worked out just fine.

Our experience as foster carers has been very rewarding. For example, seeing that the young boy we’ve just referred to fostering has turned into a well-balanced and established young man whom we have stayed in close contact with since he left our care has made all the hard work completely worth it. Not to mention the fact that we have had the best support from FCA over the years too.

Right from the get go during our assessment to become carers, through to training, support groups and full support and understanding during Joanne’s illness, FCA has been outstanding every step of the way.

If we had any advice to give people considering becoming foster carers we would tell them to go for it. Ask as many questions as you need to and speak to other carers and you’ll soon find out what a great job it is. It’s a reward you’ll never fully understand unless you try it for yourself, it’s worth doing!’

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I foster with FCA and my daughter does too

Mum Sharon has been happily married for 39 years and together with her husband have two birth children (who are now adults) and two small dogs.

“I have been fostering for over six years.  We began with Kinship Care of my two nieces, once this ended and the girls were grown up, we began really looking into foster care.  When my husband retired we became aware of the need for foster parents and we felt we now had the free time to dedicate to other children who needed care and support.

We started by looking online at the options available and approached FCA Northern Ireland to find out more information and had a home visit the next day.

Friends and family were very supportive and understood the positives and negatives due to Kinship Care arrangements we had in place before.  There were also family discussions with our two birth children to get their approval, this went extremely well and both of our children were ready to help and support us whenever needed.

FCA have support available 24/7, a great training programme that is enjoyable and interactive, support groups and a therapeutic fostering approach to helping looked after children in care with wrap round team parenting, child therapy and respite.  We have brilliant support from our supervising social worker and 24/7 emergency on-call if needed.

As a foster parent there are challenges, fitting in some time to ourselves can be difficult.  There is also managing challenging behaviours and working through the hard days, always remembering to not take anything personally. Dealing with situations that you may not normally be used to.  But on the other side fostering brings so many rewarding moments in fact too many for me to mention but the ones that stick out the most would be the FCA choir competition at Titanic Belfast where our young person sang a solo part and the choir won first place. Also achieving GCSE and A-Level Results for their future.

When my daughter Lauren said she wanted to foster too I was happy and proud, I knew she would be very capable as she contributed and worked very closely alongside us fostering from the beginning.  From Lauren’s previous experience as our support person and living alongside foster brothers and sisters she already knew the ups and downs and had a good insight into what becoming a foster parent entailed.  We are always there for each other to offer advice and support.

I would recommend new foster parents attend training sessions, it is very beneficial.  Going to local support groups gives a much better understanding and support from other more experienced foster parents who can pass on great advice. Reaching out to your supervising social worker when needed as they will always be there to listen and can give advise when you may not be sure what to do.

If you feel like you want to give something back then fostering is a great choice”.

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Fostering gives me the opportunity to do something worthwhile

Seeing first hand the support and training FCA offer as her mum and dad have been fostering with FCA for a long time she knew FCA Northern Ireland would be the right fit for her.

“I considered fostering after I was the support person to my parents and had lived alongside foster brothers and sisters. I was also a resource worker for FCA for two years and had worked with lots of different children and young people. I realised even though I would be a younger foster parent I could offer a safe and supportive home, and that I already had lots of knowledge and insight. My partner and I discussed it for a few years and when we felt like it was the right time for us I contacted FCA for more information.  I always knew it was something that I really wanted to do alongside being an artist and to care for someone gives me great satisfaction every day.

I have gained lots of different experiences from living alongside foster brothers and sisters over the years. Every child or young person comes with their own unique background and trauma and each child or young person will process and express this in many different ways whether is it emotional or behavioural. Staying alongside them through great days, fun days, good days, bad days, hard days just being there with them will have a huge impact in the long run.
There are challenges, changing your living situation to accommodate a child or young person with potential difficult behaviours and needs. Having to take a step back from your social life and spending time with family and friends outside and inside the home to support the stresses, anxiety and needs of the foster child in your care. Forward planning for events such as friend’s birthdays, trips away, friend’s wedding, date nights to spend as a couple would always be done a month or two in advance.  But seeing the young person in my care develop emotional and social interactions, which are now achieved on a daily basis and overcoming many fears anxiety is so rewarding. Getting to see them have their own identity and making decisions for themselves to become much more confident and self-assured for the future. Also achieving GCSE qualifications and currently working through A Levels with future goals of attending university is invaluable.

If you are thinking about fostering begin by researching and finding out lots of information, always keep an open mind and making sure to have a great support network of friends and family to rely on. Attend information days and talk to other foster parents if possible to get a better understanding of what is really involved.  My advice to new foster parents is as a younger foster parent I would say that having someone close to you that you can rely on as your support person is a great help, especially for your social life if you have a friend’s birthday night out, or a date night as a couple planning in advance is very helpful for everyone. I always attend training and support group when I can and reaching out to supervising social worker when needed is very important.

Fostering at this age gives me the opportunity to do something worthwhile, if you have the time, dedication, space and understanding to support a child or young person then becoming a foster parent will give you great satisfaction every day”.

Thinking about starting your fostering journey?

24/7 local support, Excellent ongoing training and competitive allowances are just a few of the reasons why you should choose us FCA for your fostering journey.

Why choose us
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