Making memories not profit: Team Fostering supports young people and carers
At Team Fostering, it’s all about making memories. Not profit. Where the belief is nobody should make money from a child going into care. Read the real stories from young people and the carers.
As a not-for-profit fostering agency, all surplus money goes into experiences and support for children and young people which build the memories every child should be entitled to.
Team Fostering put on an incredible array of activities for our children and young people throughout the year, particularly in the school holidays. Anything from ice skating and climbing to days out to the beach or theme parks. Plus they head off on a Team holiday every year for all their foster families.
As a foster carer with Team Fostering you’re also supported to make your own memories, with things such as Christmas and birthday allowances so you can make those special occasions extra magical.
Young people, carers and staff have shared what some of their favourite memories are from their time with Team Fostering.
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Making memories with activities and experiences
Children and young people benefit in a number of different ways from Team Fostering activities. It’s a chance to have fun and try new things, build confidence and make new friends.
Foster carer Melanie shared memories of a trip to a theme park.
Our children had never been here before and we literally had to be kicked out of it! We thoroughly enjoyed this, we had three children and trips like this aren't cheap. We are so thankful for Team for providing these.
Team Fostering board members can also be found joining in with the activities, and board member Chris Cook reminisced about one of his favourites.
He said: One memory that really stands out for me was at the beach, when all of the children and foster carers were exploring the rock pools looking for aquatic life. There was a lovely moment when the children started excitedly comparing what they’d found against the list Sandra (our outward bounds expert) had given them.
“They realised they’d managed to spot almost everything on the list and were absolutely buzzing about it. It was such a simple thing, but a really special moment of shared joy, curiosity and connection.”
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Celebrating achievements
Team Fostering foster carers are the biggest cheerleaders for children and young people and talk about pride in the things they’ve watched them achieve. At Team Fostering this all accumulates in an annual Celebration of Achievements event.
Foster Carer Helen talked about watching a young person head off to University abroad.
One of my biggest memories is driving him to Heathrow airport to wave him off to study at University in Shanghai, remembering the boy who arrived with low self-esteem and having never been abroad.
For another carer it was seeing their young person pass their maths GCSE, after trying hard many times and never giving up.
The small memories with big impact
A lot of young people shared memories which were simply focussed on the quality time they’ve spent with their foster carers.
Care leaver Elysha talked about one of the best memories of foster carer Paul being the nights they stayed up until the early hours talking. Whilst foster carer Helen reminisced about a song which reminds her of the times she danced around the kitchen with some of the children she’s fostered.
At Project Listen – our focus group for children and young people to share their opinions – they talked about enjoying Christmas dinners with their foster family, getting Christmas presents and film nights together.
Life after care
For many of our foster carers, their children and young people become an important part of their family. Plus saying goodbye when a child leaves their care isn’t the end and memories continue.
One of our carers shared their excitement of learning they would soon be welcoming a foster grandchild. Foster carer Melanie also told us how they involved their young people in the renewing of their wedding vows.
Children and young people are in need of foster carers who can be there through the ups and the downs, making memories in the smallest of moments or in times when things feel tough.
Could you be that person? Get in touch about becoming a foster carer with Team Fostering on 0800 292 2003 or visit www.teamfostering.co.ukto submit an online enquiry.