Fostering – a journey like no other!
Lucy Stevens - 7th March 2024
“Fostering has changed our life for the better, we have our own family unit, and are part of something bigger.” This week, Georgia EFS Foster Carer Ambassador shares her fostering journey which took her from young coupledom to becoming a family of 5. First steps into fostering We began looking into fostering when we purchased our house together in 2018 as we knew we wanted to help children who needed us. Having spoken about it with friends and family, and having no birth children, we had the space to be able to make the difference. We had previously been to events put on by the local authority but hadn’t been really inspired. We welcomed El and Lucy from Eastern Fostering
More Info
My journey into fostering.
Lucy Stevens - 29th February 2024
Meet EFS Fostering Ambassador, Philip as he talks us through his journey into the world of fostering. “Becoming a trusted person in a child’s life and helping them tackle major issues is what drives me as a foster carer”. Eastern Fostering Services foster carer and ambassador, Philip, started fostering 3 years ago and was inspired to do so through his experiences helping refugees. “I first enquired about fostering in September of 2020. I had seen a news article saying that Kent County Council was declaring that it could no longer safely house asylum seeking children and was appealing for other local authorities to help. I had spent many weeks in the makeshift refugee camp known as The Jungle in Calais and
More Info
Why I love being part of a team who is making a difference in the lives of children and young people.
Lucy Stevens - 20th December 2022
Supervising social worker, Sam Grant, tells us what it is she likes about her role at Eastern Fostering Services. I’m Sam and I’m a supervising social worker at Eastern Fostering Services. This means I support and advocate for Foster Carers and the children they care for. My role includes: Emotional and practical support to foster carers through regular supervisionIdentifying and supporting foster carer training and development needsDesigning and delivering trainingAdvocating for the foster carers and the children to professionals in social care, education, health and well-beingWorking with professionals to deliver the best outcomes for childrenSupporting the carers in fostering review meetings, educational meetings and in promoting additional support for children and carersOrganising social events for children and carers to help
More Info
A big thank you and a very Merry Christmas to all of our foster carers!
Lucy Stevens - 20th December 2021
We could describe this year as the lockdown equivalent of the hokey cokey. In, out. In, out! It’s certainly been a challenging old time for you, our highly valued foster carers. We wanted to use our last blog of the year to thank you for your resilience, commitment, and general awesomeness which you have all displayed in abundance throughout 2021. So many reasons to thank you We are so thankful that we have had opportunities this year to meet with you and the children during our events over the summer. We enjoyed two beach days, go-karting, and a lovely family picnic day during the summer during which it was clear to see the fruits of your labour. All the children
More Info
#ProudToFoster – Paul
Lucy Stevens - 28th April 2018
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYle_9g8SmE&list=PLSv_Z_aZV0Oan1obj3fPDX68Rkx7bBFpm&index=3"] I’m Paul. My wife and I are from Suffolk and have been fostering now for 3 years. Before fostering I worked in the Caring sector, caring for elderly people and young people with learning disabilities. I am now a retired grandfather. My wife contuinues to work part-time as a counsellor and whilst we share the care of our foster child, I suppose you could say that I am the main carer. We began to foster our child pretty much as soon as we were approved and she has been with us ever since. Fostering has been a life-changing experience. We have come to love our child and have invested significantly in her emotionally. We have loved to watch
More Info
#ProudToFoster – Tracey
Lucy Stevens - 28th April 2018
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQFLmroiDJI&list=PLSv_Z_aZV0Oan1obj3fPDX68Rkx7bBFpm&index=6"] Hi, I’m Tracey. I’m from Suffolk. I’m a single mother to 3 adult sons and I’ve been fostering for 2 years. Fostering was something I always wanted to do. I’d worked with troubled teens for most of my career and recognised that a warm, nurturing home could really have an impact on the lives of the most vulnerable. I raised my own 3 sons to adulthood, and through work as a Behaviour Mentor at an Upper School, had been able to support teens,so I knew that I had plenty of relevant experience. Once my boys had flown the nest, there was nothing to hold me back. I talked at length with my sons and my boyfriend, who were
More Info
#ProudToFoster – Beth, Mel, Mitch
Lucy Stevens - 28th April 2018
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYle_9g8SmE&list=PLSv_Z_aZV0Oan1obj3fPDX68Rkx7bBFpm&index=3"] We’re Beth, Mel and Mitch. Last year our Mum and Dad became foster carers. It’s something all of us support 100% and we’ve been part of the whole process, from application through to taking in our first child earlier this year. We’ve been really included in the fostering process, we’ve been to training, we’ve attended events – Mitch even did a spot of dancing at the Eastern Fostering Services talent show! And of course, we support our mum and dad to foster on a daily basis. Like any big change in life, we’ve had to adapt. At first, it can feel very strange having a new child in the house. As a family, we’re open and honest and
More Info
#ProudToFoster – Julie
Lucy Stevens - 28th April 2018
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h3gUxEmfag&list=PLSv_Z_aZV0Oan1obj3fPDX68Rkx7bBFpm&index=5"] I’m Julie. I’m mum to Mel, Beth and Mitch and foster with my husband Martin in Essex. Before fostering, and in addition to bringing up our children, I worked in the caring profession. I think fostering was a natural choice for me. I’ve brought my own kids up and they’re mostly independent. We’ve now got the space and the energy and passion to foster. Fostering has been a life-long wish of mine. I have loved being a parent and our kids have had a caring and nurturing family to grow up in; we just wanted to offer that to children who are less fortunate. We’ve been fostering with Eastern Fostering Services since the end of 2017. Of course
More Info
#ProudToFoster – Tracy
Lucy Stevens - 28th April 2018
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtU25AgO6uk&list=PLSv_Z_aZV0Oan1obj3fPDX68Rkx7bBFpm&index=2"] Hi, I’m Tracy. I’m from Suffolk. I’m a single parent of 2 (now adult) girls. I began fostering in 2012, when my daughters were in their 20s. I’d always wanted to foster and had worked as a childminder and nanny so I knew it was something I had relevant skills and experience for. Once my girls were independent, I finally had the time and energy to devote to fostering and so, very much as a family, we decided to go for it. Initially, I wanted to foster young children (under 5s) and indeed the first child I looked after was just 3 years old. But soon, I began to reflect on how much relevant experience I had through
More Info
#ProudtoFoster – Lai
Lucy Stevens - 28th April 2018
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKM-uVClw-A&list=PLSv_Z_aZV0Oan1obj3fPDX68Rkx7bBFpm"] I’m Lai. I’m a mother of 2 teens and together with my husband have been fostering for 2 years. Before we began fostering, we had been a host family for International students with the Essex Local Authority. We really enjoyed this but we wanted to make a difference to some of the more vulnerable children closer to home. We had always wanted to foster and we felt it was a natural progression. We’re an easy going family who feel that we have a good home to share and embody the warm and nurturing unit that so many children in Essex are lacking. We wanted to share our life experiences and wisdom and to help children learn all the
More Info
