Scotland specific https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/ en The Promise (Scotland) https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/policy-practice/consultation-responses/independent-care-review-scotland <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--page.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">The Promise (Scotland)</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--page.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Daniel.Sinclairtfn</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--page.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2018-01-22T10:08:04+00:00">Mon, 01/22/2018 - 10:08</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--page.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The Independent Care Review in Scotland aimed to&nbsp;identify&nbsp;and deliver&nbsp;lasting change in the care system and leaving a legacy that will transform the wellbeing of children and young people. Their final report was called '<a href="https://thepromise.scot/">The Promise</a>'. The Scottish Government accepted all of the Review's recommendations in February 2020, committing to keep The Promise. The Promise team are now overseeing the implementation of the recommendations across Scotland.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--page.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><strong>The Fostering Network is committed to keeping The Promise.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>This includes:&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Amending&nbsp;our use of language and establishing&nbsp;a language and re-framing group.</li> <li>Continuing&nbsp;to place&nbsp;the voice of children and young people at the heart of our work by establishing a young person's advisory group aimed at amplifying the voice of young people in the fostering community in Scotland.</li> <li>Continuing&nbsp;to deliver projects which align with the current work strands in <a href="https://thepromise.scot/what-must-change/plan-21-24">Plan 21-24</a>&nbsp;including:&nbsp; <ul> <li><a href="https://thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/policy-practice/projects-and-programmes/mockingbird-programme">Mockingbird</a>&nbsp;</li> <li><a href="https://thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/policy-practice/projects-and-programmes/step-up-step-down">Step Up, Step Down&nbsp;</a></li> <li><a href="https://thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/get-involved/championing-fostering/fostering-friendly">Fostering Friendly</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Taking a proactive child centred approach to our work, for example, rewriting our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fosteringresources.co.uk/?pid=320&amp;p=0&amp;s=allegations&amp;sao=1">allegations, concerns and complaints signpost</a>.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <h2>Our engagement with The Promise:</h2> <ul> <li>We received Promise funding for a Promise Implementation Manager from August 2021 to June 2023, including 'A Good Childhood Funding' to establish the young person’s advisory board.</li> <li>We are supporting The Promise to consult with foster carers on the Children's Hearing System re-design.<br /> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <h2>Our&nbsp;engagement with the care review:</h2> <ul> <li>November 2020: <a href="http://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-02/The%20plan%20to%20deliver%20The%20Promise%20-%20briefing%20from%20The%20Fostering%20Network%2C%20Nov20.pdf">Key areas of focus for The Promise</a></li> <li>January 2018: <a href="https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-02/Care%20review%20submission%20Jan18%20FINAL.pdf">Submission to the care review</a><br /> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Tags:</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-content-topic--page.html.twig * field--node--field-content-topic.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--field-content-topic.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1277" hreflang="en">Scotland specific</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-members-only--page.html.twig * field--node--field-members-only.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--field-members-only.html.twig * field--boolean.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-members-only field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field--item">0</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> Mon, 22 Jan 2018 10:08:04 +0000 Daniel.Sinclairtfn 11117 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk Walking Tall https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/policy-practice/projects-and-programmes/previous-projects/walking-tall <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--page.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Walking Tall</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--page.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Daniel.Sinclairtfn</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--page.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2017-07-05T16:21:53+00:00">Wed, 07/05/2017 - 16:21</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--page.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The Fostering Network was awarded funding by the Big Lottery Fund to support Walking Tall, a two-year project which provided opportunities for primary school aged children in foster care and the children of foster carers to make their voices heard and enable them to reach their full potential - to help them 'walk tall'.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--page.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><h2>About Walking Tall</h2> <p>The Fostering Network in Scotland received funding from the Big Lottery Fund for a two-year project named Walking Tall. The aim was to consult primary school-aged children on their thoughts about living in foster care. This included both children in foster care and the sons and daughters of foster carers. A children’s participation worker was appointed to co-ordinate the workshops and to work alongside a steering group of volunteers to create an activity book. A disability inclusion co-ordinator was also appointed for six months to make sure that children and young people with disabilities also have the opportunity to have their views heard especially in relation to their care, and that if anything is preventing them from taking part in decisions about their care that this is known.<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/wt_cover.jpg" style="margin: 10px; float: right; width: 200px; height: 284px;" /></p> <p>The Fostering Network is passionate about including children and young people and creating opportunities for them to have their say.&nbsp;Through this project we tried hard to hear the voices of children who know first-hand what it is like to live in a fostering household and who have views on how this experience might be better.&nbsp;</p> <p>To gather the voices of children we held eight workshops across central Scotland for primary-school aged children. The workshops included movement, play, arts and drama and we used different activities to make sure that everybody who took part was able to be asked their views and experiences in a fun and safe way.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our disability inclusion co-ordinator went out and about across the country, meeting up with foster carers and children to hear from them what some of the day to day challenges and are, and how they have come up with ways of working through some of these challenges.</p> <p>The final part of the project involved making reports and sharing the information that was gathered through the workshops. We made:&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>An activity and discussion book for children and foster carers to talk about fostering and what it means to children (see below).&nbsp;</li> <li>A poster for children highlighting some of the key messages from the project (see below).</li> <li>A training course for staff working in fostering services as well as for foster carers about how they can also run workshops using the activities we used at the Walking T<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/wt_poster.jpg" style="margin: 10px; float: right; width: 200px; height: 286px;" />all workshops (see below).</li> <li><a href="/sites/default/files/content/walkingtall-consultationworkshopsmarch2019f.pdf">A report&nbsp;summarising the workshops and containing recommendations identified by the children.</a>&nbsp;</li> <li> <div><a href="/sites/default/files/content/walkingtall-disabilityinclusionmarch2019.pdf">A report for adults about the challenges shared by foster carers and children with complex disabilities</a>.<br /> &nbsp;</div> </li> </ul> <div>You can also <a href="#podcast">listen to this podcast</a> about Walking Tall which includes some of the steering group members talking about why the project was so important to them.&nbsp;<a id="children" name="children"></a></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <h3>Walking Tall resources for children</h3> <ul> <li><a href="/sites/default/files/content/walkingtallbooklet.pdf">Download the Walking Tall activity and discussion book</a></li> <li><a href="/sites/default/files/content/shieldtemplate.pdf">Download the shield template</a></li> <li><a href="/sites/default/files/content/furnituretemplate.pdf">Download the furniture template</a></li> <li> <div><a href="/sites/default/files/content/walkingtallposter.pdf">Download the key messages highlights poster</a><br /> &nbsp;</div> </li> </ul> <h3><a id="podcast" name="podcast"></a>Walking Tall training workshop</h3> <p>Our Walking Tall training workshop aims to enable foster carers and social workers to more effectively consult with children and young people. Using interactive activities, the session will encourage participants to think through how they can adopt a more participative approach when working with children and young people and will highlight the importance of co-production – working side by side with young people – to empower children to share their views and be heard.</p> <p>Contact <a href="mailto:joy.crawford@fostering.net">joy.crawford@fostering.net</a> for more information.<br /> &nbsp;</p> <h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; box-sizing: border-box; orphans: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;"><span style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;AkkoRoundedPro-Light&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 26.93px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 30.43px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Walking Tall podcast</span></h3> <p style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: &amp;quot;montserrat&amp;quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 100; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/621530325&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;" width="100%"></iframe></p> <p style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: &amp;quot;montserrat&amp;quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 100; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">We take a look at the impact of our Walking Tall project in Scotland and hear from some of the young people who took part.</p> <p style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: &amp;quot;montserrat&amp;quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 100; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Music: "Heartwarming" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; text-align: left; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 100; text-decoration: none; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; box-sizing: border-box; orphans: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;</p> <p>Tags:</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-content-topic--page.html.twig * field--node--field-content-topic.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--field-content-topic.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1108" hreflang="en">child development</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1277" hreflang="en">Scotland specific</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-members-only--page.html.twig * field--node--field-members-only.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--field-members-only.html.twig * field--boolean.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-members-only field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field--item">0</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> Wed, 05 Jul 2017 16:21:53 +0000 Daniel.Sinclairtfn 10842 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk Fostering Community Champions https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/policy-practice/programmes-and-projects/fostering-community-champions <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--page.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:name">Fostering Community Champions</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--page.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span rel="schema:author"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">admin</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--page.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2015-12-15T15:03:20+00:00">Tue, 12/15/2015 - 15:03</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-introduction--page.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--field-introduction.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-introduction field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Fostering Community Champions in Scotland was&nbsp;an exciting four-year project, which started in 2014, that aimed to improve the outcomes of children in care by reducing the isolation experienced by many foster carers and helping young people to use their experience of foster care in a positive and meaningful way.</p> <p>During the project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, we trained and supported 48 volunteers, including 36 foster carers and 12 young people.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--page.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div property="schema:text" class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><h2><strong>Foster carer champions</strong></h2> <p>This exciting project offered&nbsp;a unique service to foster carers in Scotland.</p> <p>Foster carer champions are experienced foster carers with an excellent ability to listen to and support carers who may be experiencing problems or just need some one to talk to. Champions have expertise in a wide variety of areas, such as:</p> <ul> <li>responding to challenging behaviour</li> <li>facing allegations</li> <li>caring for a children born with complex needs</li> <li>managing transitions</li> <li>addressing tension between carers and professionals.<br /> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>Foster carer champions have received training and ongoing support from The Fostering Network to assist them in their role and embrace &nbsp;ongoing opportunities to increase their knowledge and skills. These champions support foster carers throughout Scotland via phone or email.</p> <p>Foster carer champions have also been involved with focus groups and research projects to help improve fostering as a whole, as well as supporting the development of &nbsp;training on positive contact which we will be rolling out shortly.</p> <p>Foster carers often feel isolated and cannot always talk to someone about the struggles they are going through, the champions project bridges this gap, matching carers to give them the opportunity to talk through issues they are facing. The support delivered by foster carer champions to newly approved foster carers meant that new carers&nbsp;had an improved initial experience of foster care.</p> <figure> <blockquote> <p>During my years of fostering I have seen many children move on to adoptive families, so helping families through this experience is making me feel as though I am giving something back.</p> </blockquote> </figure> <figure> <figcaption><cite>Foster Carer&nbsp;Champion</cite>​</figcaption> </figure> <p><a id="youngchampions" name="youngchampions"></a></p> <h2><strong>Young champions</strong></h2> <p>Young champions are young people aged between 15 and 22 who have lived in a fostering household.&nbsp;Our young champions took part in a range of activities to support young people across Scotland, including:</p> <ul> <li>Writing and delivering training for foster carers.</li> <li>Presenting and facilitating conferences and national events.</li> <li>Working alongside partner agencies such as CELCIS, the Children’s Commissioner Scotland and the Independent Care Review.</li> <li>Producing short films, writing blogs and articles for national publications.&nbsp;</li> <li>Appearing on national radio interviews.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>The young champions have been trained in public speaking, media training and have completed online courses to enhance their skills, confidence and future opportunities.&nbsp;</p> <p>Towards the end of 2016, the young champions made a film '<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JYnMNabEQtk" target="_blank">Give Me a Chance'</a> to highlight the challenges children and young people can face in everyday life when placed into care. The film was launched at the Scottish Parliament and has since been viewed across the UK and as far afield as Australia!&nbsp;</p> <p>Throughout this project our young champions shared&nbsp;their personal experiences and advice throughout Scotland, on how to improve foster care for children and young people and addressing the stigma often faced by those growing up in foster families. The young champions felt&nbsp;the opportunities they&nbsp;had to speak with key decision makers made a significant difference to the fostering landscape and they are passionate that other young people should have similar platforms. Young people are the experts in their experiences and they should be actively involved in the decisions affecting them.&nbsp;</p> <p><a id="film" name="film"></a>Watch the film below to hear from the young champions about their experiences over the last four years.</p> <p><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oH31ARUue84" width="560"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Tags:</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/custom/tfnetwork/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-content-topic--page.html.twig * field--node--field-content-topic.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--field-content-topic.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1702" hreflang="en">fostering community champions</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1277" hreflang="en">Scotland specific</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1925" hreflang="en">Programmes and Projects</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-members-only--page.html.twig * field--node--field-members-only.html.twig * field--node--page.html.twig * field--field-members-only.html.twig * field--boolean.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-members-only field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field--item">0</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> Tue, 15 Dec 2015 15:03:20 +0000 admin 9785 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk