Reflections on the International Foster Care Conference 2025

We were proud to be partners of the International Foster Care Organisation’s (IFCO) conference which took place in Glasgow Caledonian University from 5th-8th June 2025. 

This conference’s theme was Brave Hearts in Care - Building Trust, Confidence, and Connections and aimed to enhance the outcomes for children and young people in foster care by focusing on the critical importance of relationships. 

Brenda shared her journey from being removed from her Aboriginal birth family, then placed into foster care and adopted by a white family. Six years into her adoption, Australian Child Welfare removed Brenda again, returning her to her birth family, who had now become strangers to her. 

Brenda reflected on her experience of belonging, separation and the power of healing and reconciliation of her dual identity. She has reconnected with her white adoptive parents and proudly has both a ‘white mum and a Black mum, a white dad and a Black dad’. In closing, Brenda shared that ‘I might not be a healer, but I’ve a healing story to share’.

Our CEO, Sarah Thomas led workshops and was part of panels throughout the conference, highlighting The Fostering Network’s work and priorities to make foster care the best it can be, as well as sharing her own experience of children’s social care. 

A Snapshot of Step Up Step Down 

The Fostering Network’s Step Up Step Down is underpinned by the principles of early intervention and prevention which are associated with better outcomes in adulthood. Within one holistic model, the programme successfully supports families to stay together safely, by working in partnership with foster carers, parents and health and social care services. A parent described the service as "a warm, cosy blanket around our family."

The pilot in Northern Ireland saw 95% of children remain at home safely with their birth families, and 90% of families engage with community supports, growing their skills and reducing social isolation. As well as being an excellent result for families and their outcomes, this also yields significant cost savings. For every £1.00 invested in Step Up Step Down yields direct savings to government of £1.50, rising to £14.50 in specific cases.

This workshop utilised a range of engaging tools such as play, creativity, images, video and story to explore core themes and practices from our Step Up Step Down programme. In this workshop, attendees could experience the nurturing, trauma-informed way in which learning is shared within the programme.

The themes explored included:

• Trauma-responsiveness in family support spaces
• Boosting creativity to enhance learning
• Growing psychological safety with families in need
• Nurturing facilitation skills in training and mentoring roles
• Equitably platforming voices of lived experience
• What true collaborative working requires 

The highlight of the workshop was hearing directly from Family Support Foster Carers within Step Up Step Down. They generously shared elements from their own stories and experiences, including moving examples of connection, bonding and love within the families they support.

Jade, Head of Step Up Step Down, shared her highlights from the conference as a whole, “It was moving to have stories, shared learning and best practice examples from a wide range of contexts and cultures. There were opportunities to hear voices of lived experience, including care experienced young people and foster carers. I really appreciated this, as true stories are the most powerful offering.

“Taking an intersectional and culturally mindful approach when journeying with families on the edge of care and in foster or residential care is important. An awareness of the whole continuum of care and attachment needs at every stage of a child's journey is important.” 

Spotlight on children of foster carers

Our Participation and Innovation Partner, Bethany Shelton, shared her independently published research into how birth children of foster carers make sense of family. Bethany highlighted the overall positive impact that fostering has on birth children within a fostering household in spite of the challenges they face.

She also highlighted how much potential there is within this important role to improve current fostering experiences and potential for birth children of foster carers to become foster carers themselves, if they are given the right support at the right time. 

Bethany says:

“I was really touched that over a quarter of the conference attendees came to my workshop. I think it shows this is a conversation worth having. Whilst it may seem obvious that fostering has an impact on the other people in the household birth children of foster carers are often a quiet voice in policy and practice. There’s little research into birth children's experiences of fostering or their outcomes.

My research shows that birth children of all ages really get fostering; they see all the highs and the lows and still view it positively!

I think this presents huge potential for supporting the recruitment of future foster carers who have their own children, as well as a massive untapped recruitment pool – why not target the recruitment of adults who grew up in a fostering household?  

My parents were foster carers when I was a teenager and I’d love to do it myself, if only I had the means to become a foster carer. It’s an expensive time to be alive, let alone start a family and think about fostering. If fostering services want to be smart about where they put their money and recruitment efforts I think they should look to and understand their children of foster carers. What do they need to start their own fostering journey? How many of them go on to foster themselves?  

The research shows children of foster carers are already bought in, they already get the realities of fostering and have already developed skills to help them. They don’t need convincing. Perhaps, like me, what they do need is practical help like help affording a spare room.  

One of the participants in my research illustrates this beautifully,  

‘All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed being part of a foster family, so much that I am desperate to be a foster carer myself.’”

Bethany co-delivered her session with her colleague Joey Bowers, who himself grew up in a fostering household, has children of his own and has been a foster carer for twelve years.  

A Celebration of Pioneers

Joey also delivered presentations on our Fostering Wellbeing, Pioneer Programme in Wales. Joey spoke about how we can empower foster carers to drive positive change.

Joey says:

“I shared insights from our Pioneer programme, which places the wellbeing of children firmly at its heart. I also highlighted the importance of ensuring foster carers have an equal voice in the team around the child. When carers are truly heard and valued, we unlock real potential to improve both recruitment and retention across the fostering sector.”

When reflecting on the conference more widely Joey shared:

“The highlight of IFCO for me was meeting inspirational people from around the world. I was particularly moved by Brenda Matthews, who shared her powerful story of being forcibly removed from her family during Australia’s Stolen Generations era. Her resilience and advocacy are deeply inspiring.

It was also fantastic to connect with others innovating to improve fostering—like Sara Fernandez from Weekenders. If you haven’t seen their work, I highly recommend checking it out!”