who needs fostering https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/ en Who needs fostering? https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/danielsinclairtfn/who-needs-fostering <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.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>Who needs fostering?</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.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> <!-- 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--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Sun, 05/13/2018 - 13:52</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.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-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.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>Every 20 minutes a child comes into care in the UK in need of a foster family to look after them for as long as they need it – sometimes a few days, other times a whole childhood.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.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 class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>There are many reasons for children entering care such as short-term illness of a parent to exposure to abuse or neglect. Regardless of their previous experiences, it is important that these children and young people have the opportunity to live in a family that can offer them the love and stability they need to thrive and successfully transition into adulthood.</p> <p>We currently estimate that there is a need for more than 8,000 new fostering families across the UK over the next 12 months.</p> <p>More specifically, there is a requirement for foster carers who are able to look after teenagers, sibling groups and children and young people with additional needs.</p> <p>The vast majority of children and young people in care are over the age of 10, so it follows that most foster carers look after older children and teenagers.</p> <p>Groups of siblings are frequently placed separately due to few foster carers having the space required to look after more than one child, so foster carers with more than one spare room are also being sought. In many cases where siblings are kept together, fostering services have had to look outside of the children’s local area in order to find foster carers who can accommodate multiple children. Although together, this can also be detrimental to the group as it may take them away from familiar surroundings and routines, as well as their support network of friends, teachers and extended family.</p> <p>Finding foster carers with the specialist skills and experience required to look after children and young people with physical, emotional or learning needs is also crucial to ensure an easier transition into care for such children.</p> <p>The more fostering families there are in the UK the more likely children and young people are to find a match which is well suited to their needs, interests and personality.</p> <p>Find out more about <a href="https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/advice-information/could-you-foster/who-needs-fostering">who needs fostering</a> and watch our <a href="https://youtu.be/gXb0R0ORkv0">We are not Mistakes on Pages film</a>.</p> <p>If you would like to know more about becoming a foster carer then please see the <a href="https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/advice-information/could-you-foster">Could you foster?</a> section of our website.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.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-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1909" hreflang="en">who needs fostering</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1712" hreflang="en">could you foster</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11274&amp;2=favourite_content" token="ZJiBhUnxDK7IB8nQds9A5nkAYY5rW37Q7-MNR3VFDPo"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11274&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="eZ5liLf4YRDo4IkEGV6K-g-IYTxk76sEocCj4T-6KMk"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Sun, 13 May 2018 13:52:08 +0000 Daniel.Sinclairtfn 11274 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/danielsinclairtfn/who-needs-fostering#comments Fostered to football https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/n-b-lakhani/fostered-football <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.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>Fostered to football</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.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> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">N B Lakhani</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--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Fri, 01/26/2018 - 11:43</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.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-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.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">The Fostering Network catches up with Ricky Weir, former Players Footballer of the Year in the Jersey Premier League and current founder and chairman of the Jersey2Africa4Football initiative. We follow Ricky's journey from foster child to working with English Premier League footballer Victor Wanyama (pictured below), as he gives some encouraging advice for prospective carers as well as children going into or currently in care.</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.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 class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><h3>Tell us a little bit about yourself and your experience with foster care</h3> <p>I was born in Glasgow in January 1963 to an unmarried Scottish mother and Nigerian father who were trainee nurses in Arbroath in 1962. My father died when my mother was three months pregnant, which, under pres<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/ricky_weir_football.jpg" style="float:left; height:296px; margin:5px 10px; width:400px" />sure from her Catholic family, led to me being given up at birth and placed in a Barnardo’s children's home In Strathaven, south east of Glasgow.</p> <p>At about six months old, I was fostered by a Scottish couple, John and Margaret Weir, who subsequently decided to adopt me in November 1964, shortly before my second birthday.</p> <p>Personally, I saw my foster/adoptive parents as simply my parents, ever since I was old enough to be aware of the difference. Through them, I was lucky enough to enjoy a strong, stable, and loving upbringing no different to other children in my neighbourhood or school who were not fostered or adopted - and I am forever grateful to them for taking a chance on me.</p> <p>Foster parents choose to give love and care to a child, which, sadly, depending on circumstances, is not always the case with natural parents.</p> <p>With the childhood upbringing my fostering/adoptive parents gave me, I'd like to believe that they gave me a chance in life that I might not otherwise have had, and who knows where my life could have e<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/ricky_weir_pfa_award_winner.jpg" style="float:right; height:426px; margin:5px 10px; width:300px" />nded up?</p> <p>Through the encouragement and support of my father, I gained a strong education good enough for a university place at one of Scotland's most prestigious universities. I harboured a life-long love of football, also encouraged and supported by my father who would travel the length and breadth of the country to watch me play.</p> <p>My mother, perhaps more in the background, was nevertheless simply unconditional in her love, faith, and support of me - not only throughout my childhood, but also my life, and that is still true today as she approaches her 85<sup>th</sup> birthday.</p> <p>Sadly, my father left me much too young, 30 years ago at the age of 55, which is my own age now. I will forever be indebted to him for shaping my life and character, especially during my childhood.</p> <p>My foster/adoptive parents were not only loving, kind, and supportive, as many natural parents might be, they were also incredibly brave, taking a mixed-race child for their own back in an era where ignorance based discrimination was simply a fact of life.</p> <p>Not only was I the only mixed-race child in my street and village, but also in my school, boys club, and wider community. So, to guide and parent me through my childhood as they did is a testament to how truly brave and special they were and I strongly believe this is a description worthy of foster carers active throughout the United Kingdom.</p> <h3><strong>What advice would you give to parents currently seeking to become carers?</strong></h3> <p>I'm not sure about advice, since all prospective foster parents have their own unique circumstances, but 150 per cent I would implore and encourage potential foster carers to at least 'test the water' and give a potentially vulnerable child a chance, love, support, and the opportunity to be part of a wider family as I was.</p> <p>It is definitely not a one-way street, and as much as a child will get to experience and enjoy the benefits of being cared for by a loving couple/family the parents themselves will in turn experience many joyful aspects from an appreciative and loving child.</p> <h3><strong>What advice would you give to children currently in, or about to go into, care?</strong></h3> <p>Please do not give up hope and do not give up on yourself! Whatever your circumstances of finding yourself in care or about to go into care, it is seldom anything to do with yourself and more likely, arising from circumstances totally outside your control.</p> <p>Please do not blame yourself, you are not alone and in these difficult moments, work hard to stay strong and believe that there can still be a life of opportunity and carers and parents who can and will love you and give you a platform to progress your life towards what you would wish it to be.</p> <p>There are many, many foster children who have gone on to be happy, successful, and fulfilled in their lives and I would consider myself as one of those people, so wake up every day believing in yourself, in others and in life.</p> <p>How we experience and deal with these difficult moments and periods in our younger lives make us what we can become in the future. We are positive and balanced young adults who are a good example to others and make our carers/parents proud while pursuing our dreams in life to be the best person we can be, even though our circumstances were not always favourable and we certainly weren't born with a silver spoon in our mouths.</p> <h3><strong>What was the inspiration behind Jersey 2 Africa?</strong></h3> <p><img alt="Ricky Weir and Victor Wanyama" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/ricky_weir_and_victor_wanyama.jpg" style="float:right; height:300px; margin-bottom:10px; margin-top:10px; width:400px" />In many ways, it was accidental but started on the premise of wanting to help those less fortunate by finding a way of getting unwanted football kits to Africa (somewhere?).</p> <p>That somewhere, through a series of fateful events and circumstances, led more specifically to one of the worst slums in Nairobi, Kenya, where the living conditions and day to day living challenges of the young people I met were beyond all comprehension and a million miles away from what we, living in the western world, simply take for granted.</p> <p>There are common denominators, however, and for me that was football. I found my experiences of growing up as a young black fostered/adopted child playing football in the streets of Glasgow to not be a million miles away from these young black and often parentless children playing football in the slums of Nairobi.</p> <p>This shared love of football with kids whose circumstances, clothes and shoes (or lack thereof) made my Glasgow upbringing feel like that of a prince by comparison.</p> <p>I found it to be an opportunity to take my (then) 45 years’ experience in football as a kid playing in the streets, to player, coach, manager and finally Jerse<img alt="Jersey2Africa4Football tournament in Nairobi, Kenya" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/jersey2africa4football.jpg" style="float:left; height:300px; margin:5px 10px; width:350px" />y’s FA President and share that wealth of experience and knowledge with African boys and girls who truly treasured and welcomed it. This was ultimately my inspiration to set up Jersey 2 Africa 4 Football and help to improve young lives in Africa through football in much the same way that my own life was improved not only through football but through the time, care and attention of my fostering and adoptive parents. So perhaps you can say that I've become a foster father to many of these young kids in Africa.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.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-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1678" hreflang="en">advice</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/502" hreflang="en">Profile</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1909" hreflang="en">who needs fostering</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11129&amp;2=favourite_content" token="5Z7wX8XdRTTjmDCLL6jek1PYKgUgOm3OqUEl4N9n1nQ"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11129&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="GdYUzPOroH3xRqZeA5hcAhVFpmRYS_Uus-EvOj-1rv8"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Fri, 26 Jan 2018 11:43:27 +0000 N B Lakhani 11129 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/n-b-lakhani/fostered-football#comments The best days of my life https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/davideggboro/best-days-my-life <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.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>The best days of my life</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.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> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">DavidEggboro</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--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Fri, 01/05/2018 - 14:31</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.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-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.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>Leah shares her story of foster care, being separated from siblings and how her foster carers have supported her.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.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 class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>When I was six years old I was taken from my mother and I was put into foster care. Not only was I separated from my mum I was separated from two of my sisters, I was only young and didn’t really understand what was going on.</p> <p>I lived with my first foster carers for two and a half years until Haringey Council found my sister and I a more suitable match.</p> <p>When I moved in with my current foster carers it felt like I was entering a brand new world. Since the first day of being with them it felt as though I had been there forever. I have been with them for seven years and they have been the best days of my life. I have been on numerous holidays abroad, I receive presents and I go to restaurants regularly. I am extremely grateful for my foster carers. They are a miracle in my eyes as they treat me like their own child and I feel like I am a part of a forever family. They supported me with my school work and making friends, and they cared about my health and wellbeing.</p> <p>Throughout school I have been in the top set for all my subjects and won awards for geography, dance, my community spirit, and work with my peers. I was also put forward for an honours program for science, technology, engineering and maths. During my time at school I have also taken part in my school’s annual dance show, performing in front of over 200 people a night for three days. However, my proudest achievement is getting my younger brother and sister to live with me.</p> <p>They got taken off my biological mother and put in foster care. They stayed there for a year and their social worker wanted to put them up for adoption.</p> <p>I was distraught.</p> <p>For the whole year my foster carers and I fought for them to live with us as we believe family should be together and not separated. I wrote a long letter to the judge about why she should let my brother and sister come and live with us. She made the best decision - that they should live with us.</p> <h6>No&nbsp;regrets</h6> <p>I have achieved so much but I couldn’t do any of those things without the support of my foster carers Mandy and Iain. I don’t see them as my foster parents but as my mum and dad. They have done so much for me and I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. They deserve everything in the world and more, they are the most caring, loving and amazing people in the world.</p> <p>I believe that all foster carers should treat their foster children like their own, support them, show them love and what being in a family is like, because if not, I believe that children in foster care will feel lonely and angry inside and then choose the wrong paths in life. I also believe that being in care gives you so many opportunities and you get so much support from your social workers and carers.</p> <p>If I could go back in time so that I would still be with my biological mother today, I wouldn’t. If I wasn’t in care I wouldn’t have met my family and have all the support in my education and my hobbies. I also wouldn’t change the time I spent living with my biological mother, as if I hadn’t gone through that I wouldn’t be who I am today.</p> <p>I want to say a huge thank you to Jaqueline Heaney from Integrated Fostering Service and a special thanks to my social worker Susan Mukengezi from Haringey Council for all the support she has given me.</p> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/enews-members/leahs_story_pic.jpg" style="height:375px; width:500px" />&nbsp;</p> <p>From left: Leah with Jamie, Kia, Chantel, Rachel, Iain and Mandy.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.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-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/326" hreflang="en">foster care</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/612" hreflang="en">siblings</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1909" hreflang="en">who needs fostering</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11092&amp;2=favourite_content" token="l3Rgg6WVPn5RKQIc7Hs0tu19NJ69p3KibylTb3yWxZE"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11092&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="Z7SuUB9qWJUO3aISEQufqjgMb-MSN-M9bCSgg1bGOwc"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Fri, 05 Jan 2018 14:31:39 +0000 DavidEggboro 11092 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/davideggboro/best-days-my-life#comments The Wexsteen Chronicles https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/n-b-lakhani/wexsteen-chronicles <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--blog.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--blog.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>The Wexsteen Chronicles</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--blog.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--blog.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> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">N B Lakhani</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--blog.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Tue, 12/12/2017 - 11:35</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.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-introduction--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-introduction.html.twig * field--node--blog.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>How two care experienced sisters shot for the moon with their very own fashion brand.</p> <p>This Christmas, The Fostering Network is delighted to be collaborating with Wexbaby, a clothing line that uses fun art concepts to put a smile on children’s faces. Founders Ettie and Sally Wexsteen speak about their experiences in foster care and how they made their dreams come true.</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--blog.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog.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 class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><h3><strong>What was the main inspiration behind Wex Baby?</strong><img alt="Wexbaby collection" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/wexbaby_collection.jpg" style="float:right; height:321px; margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px; width:300px" /></h3> <p>I (Ettie) have always been a keen follower of fashion and studied promotion and styling at university. After I graduated&nbsp;I worked for a series of fashion retailers including a wholesalers and eventually became an assistant buyer for a major British highstreet brand.&nbsp;</p> <p>While I was&nbsp;there, I got a real taste of the industry and realised that there was a huge gap in the market for bespoke, handmade children’s clothes.</p> <p>Combining my fashion experience with my sister Sally’s&nbsp;illustrations, we decided to make a few tops and see how they did and - voila! - Wex Baby was born!</p> <p>I quit my job to do this full time and I’ve never been happier or more stressed!</p> <h3><strong>Can you describe your experience growing up in foster care?</strong></h3> <p>Being a looked after child is tough.&nbsp;Irrespective of how incredible your foster parents are&nbsp;it’s never the same as growing up with your own family.</p> <p>It’s always a challenge explaining your circumstances to school friends, with everyone comparing you to little orphan Annie or assuming that because you’re a foster child, you are automatically a “bad kid”.</p> <p>On the flip side, being fostered by such indescribably amazing people changed our lives for the better. They spoiled us and gave us the closest thing to a normal life as was possible.</p> <p>With the right foster carers it might&nbsp;not be your biological family but it&nbsp;can be your home.</p> <h3><strong>What difference did being in foster care make to you?</strong></h3> <p>You lose a part of yourself when you have to go and live with people who are fundamentally complete strangers. With the right support&nbsp;you can fill that void with other things and I think that’s what drove us to succeed.</p> <p>We craved normality and the best way to do that was to try and keep up with everyone else around us of our age. So we went to school, tried our best, went to university and got good jobs.</p> <p>I feel we appreciate each other more, which means we&nbsp;love each other and always stick up for one another.</p> <h3><strong>What challenges did you face being in foster care?</strong></h3> <p>There is a stigma there. People probe and try to find out if you were abused or badly treated.</p> <p>Our experience was relatively painless though compared to what other children go through - and that’s down to our foster carers.</p> <p>Being apart from our mother was hard but we were granted contact when possible and our carers encouraged us to keep strong ties with our biological family in France, which is why our clothing&nbsp;line is inspired by Paris, where the Wexsteens all live.</p> <h3><strong>What are your fondest memories of being in foster care?</strong></h3> <p>Our foster carers made us a part of their family right from the start&nbsp;and we were never treated differently from their own children.</p> <p>Bike rides with the whole family, Christmas and being spoiled on our birthdays, singing Meat Loaf in the car, just to name a few fond memories.</p> <p>We also went Paris three times a year where we visited our biological grandparents and, on a few occasions, our foster carers came with us!</p> <p>We all became one big family and our foster carers always encouraged us to retain a strong relationship with our birth parents.</p> <h3><strong>Was it easier being together?</strong></h3> <p>I can’t imagine what it would have been like if we’d been separated. We were lucky to have only been placed with one couple, who eventually looked after us long term.</p> <h3><strong>What advice would you give to children currently in foster care?</strong></h3> <p>Even though things may seem really bleak, you are not alone and whatever has happened to you doesn’t have to shape who you become.</p> <p>Your childhood, however important, is the shortest stage of your life&nbsp;and you have the rest of it to make up for how difficult the start was.</p> <p>You can be absolutely anything you want to be and the fact that your jumping off point was rocky only makes for a more satisfying feeling when you can say ‘yes, look at me, I made it. I survived.’</p> <h3><strong>What would you say to people that want to become foster carers?</strong></h3> <p>Kids in care don’t just need a roof over their head and they don’t necessarily need a new mum and dad, but they do need a friend who will have their back and be patient and understand how hard it is for them.</p> <p>If you can give someone that stability and non-judgmental support, you can literally shape the rest of a child’s life.</p> <p>Our foster carers will tell you that it wasn’t always a smooth ride, but taking us on was the best decision they could have made, and they are so proud to be our parents.</p> <h3><strong>Why did you choose to collaborate with The Fostering Network this Christmas?</strong></h3> <p><img alt="Ettie and Sally Wexsteen" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/ettie_and_sally_wexsteen.jpg" style="float:left; height:350px; margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px; width:263px" /></p> <p>We’ve collaborated with other organisations, specifically homeless charities, and when we were approached by The Fostering Network we thought ‘how fitting’.</p> <p>Children in care is such an important and yet often overlooked social issue. We also thought it was a great opportunity to reach out to other kids and carers.</p> <h3><strong>Will you be starting a line for adults anytime soon?</strong></h3> <p>We plan to start an adults’ range hopefully in January. We have had so many requests, which is great because our designs can be used for any age range.</p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3><strong>Was your La Lune design inspired by Georges Méliès?</strong></h3> <p>Now that you mention it, I can’t believe that never crossed my mind before!</p> <p>Indirectly, I suppose it may have done as I am very familiar with ‘To the moon and back’ and love Georges Méliès’ work.</p> <p>The beauty of Pepe is he can be incorporated into almost everything, which will become more evident as future collections emerge.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>You can check out Ettie and Sally’s beautiful line of children’s clothing on their website, <a href="https://www.wexbaby.co.uk">www.wexbaby.co.uk</a></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-blog-tags--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-tags.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-blog-tags.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-blog-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1909" hreflang="en">who needs fostering</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11075&amp;2=favourite_content" token="-sE5-0LDNR922E1ri079LM65U8f_J5W7_pf6GslYb-c"></drupal-render-placeholder> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comment--blog.html.twig * field--node--field-comment.html.twig * field--node--blog.html.twig * field--field-comment.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="comment.lazy_builders:renderForm" arguments="0=node&amp;1=11075&amp;2=field_comment&amp;3=comment" token="oPKb5U1QvaSS2xSyFahNySa6HnXz7_vh96S2E6FuBb0"></drupal-render-placeholder> </section> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/comment/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> Tue, 12 Dec 2017 11:35:26 +0000 N B Lakhani 11075 at https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/blogs/n-b-lakhani/wexsteen-chronicles#comments