foster families spring 2010 sample

fosterfamilies

Spring 2010 Issue Four Online

WIN!Win a Pontin’s family break

for four

Moving nightmare

Top tips to minimise stress when moving on

“What a fabulous magazine. It was great to read people’s personal experiences,” Gemma, foster carer

Fantastic ways for kids to make

their mark

You’re worth it

Self esteem starts with you - how to

build up confidenceIt’s MY

room now

Welcome from the editor...

Moving to a new placement can cause a child anguish - follow this advice to make it easier

How can they feel settled in a room where so many come and go? Top tips to make it theirs

Help develop a child’s confidence and self esteem with these pointers

Win a Pontin’s holiday in our competition. Look out for our other fabulous prizes to be won

Dear Reader,

We’ve got some treats for you this issue! This is our fourth issue, meaning we’re coming up for a full year - and we’ve got some fantastic prizes to celebrate! We’ve also got some wonderful tips and practical advice to help you in your role as foster carer. Top experts have come on board to share their knowledge on all sorts from improving children’s diets one step at a time, to helping them feel at home by personalising their room.

And you’ve shared your top tips too, so check those out! As always, we love to hear from you, and hope that you enjoy this issue as much as we have. If you’re reading the online version, you can subscribe to the full version for just £2 per copy at www.fosterfamilies.co.uk or by emailing [email protected] - we’ve got lots more packed in! Ceressa Bateman, Editor

Take a look at this issue’s cover stories

25 39

9 29

Meet the experts... Chris Graham, cookery teacher, shares some fun recipes you can try with the child in your care

Mandy Watkins, interior designer, offers some no-cost ways to personalise that room

Annette Webb, from Simply Fostering, is here as always to answer your questions

Jaqueline Siner, chartered psychologist, shares how to minimise stress for children when they move on

Susan Kelly, nutritional therapist, gives some tips on changing unhealthy diets one step at a time, to maintain some stability

fosterfamilies

Spring 2010 Issue Four £2

WIN!Win a Pontin’s family break

for four

Moving nightmare

Top tips to minimise stress when moving on

“What a fabulous magazine. It was great to read people’s personal experiences,” Gemma, foster carer

Fantastic ways for kids to make

their mark

You’re worth it

Self esteem starts with you - how to

build up confidenceIt’s MY

room now

Photos: w

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.flickr.com/photos/johnjoh, w

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.flickr.com/photos/lordferguson/1561320157

Welcome Spring 2010 foster families 2

This is not the full version - to read all the articles, subscribe for just £7 per year. Email [email protected]

Foster Families Order Form

Fill in the form, crossing out as appropriate, and send it along with a cheque made payable to ‘Foster Families’, to: Subscriptions, Foster Families, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JA.Name: _____________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________

Postcode: ___________________________

Email Address: ______________________

Yearly subscription: £7Paid by: Cheque/ Money transfer/PayPal

Email [email protected] for more payment options.

http://twitter.com/Foster_Familieswww.facebook.com/pages/Foster-Families-Magazine/144256428433

ContentsFind out what great treats we have in store for you in the full version Spring edition of Foster Families

sex talks make you cringe? a book to help... 32a healthier diet, one chip at a time ... 33 icely nicely, icing to decorate your cakes ... 35chris’s cookery cards ... 36

advice . . .

support . . .

fun stuff . . .

food and health . . .

stealing - understand and treat it ... 13making full-time work ... 22moving - a child’s nightmare ... 25

our top tips ...your fostering tips... 13 special needs survival top tips ... 18help kids connect with their family ... 24top tips to minimise the stress of moving ... 26our readers’ top five household tips ... 32a healthier diet ... 34your letters ... 38

personal . . . a long and winding road ... 5stepping into the unknown ... 17cave of wonders for all the family ... 20ms. do right, don’t be blinded ... 23

home . . .making a child feel like part of the furniture... 29

foster care matters ... 8 you’ve got a friend in me, CWDC mentor ...15

book review ...Fiona Strachan looks at some top choices for adults and children... 27

swap shop - trade your toys and prams ... 16 kids’ corner ... 37crossword ... 39

parenting . . .build them up, promoting self esteem ... 9

15

29

25

Spring 2010 Edition 4

a care leaver’s search for home ... 6education . . .

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competitions ...saronti books ...12mediak cds ...21cewe photobooks ...22storybookstar books...27kidsmusicshop dvds...37pontin’s break ... 39

let’s get together, more carers needed ... 12cashback for your kids ... 14

information . . .

Contents Spring 2010 foster families 3

Welcome Spring 2010 foster families 2


http://twitter.com/Foster_Families

The next issue of Foster Families is out in June 2010

Linda Johnson, Surrey County Council: I sent out a bulletin to all of the Surrey schools offering for a foster carer to go in and talk at an assembly about fostering, preferably when parents were present. (Some schools have sharing assemblies when parents attend). So far we have had 3 requests, and one talk has already taken place. The aim is to educate about fostering, and hopefuly pick up some applicants! We send the children home with a leaflet about fostering and a bookmark.

www.explorelearning.org.uk

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“Explore helps me with my school work, especially spellings, because it’s fun to learn” Harry, 7, Explore Learning member

“Darcey enjoys attending sessions - her confidence has grown and it has benefitted her concentration skills immensely. Darcey’s teachers at school have also noticed these improvements. All this and she leaves in a happy mood skipping and smiling too!” Susan Mathers, parent

“We have been overwhelmed by the staff at Explore. Their commitment, enthusiasm as well as professionalism. Excellent value for money” Mrs. Warren, parent

What our members and their parents think

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Visit our website to find your nearest centre

To find out how Explore can inspire your child, call your local centre to book a free trial session today.

Foster Families Full Pg with Quotes.indd 1 11/02/2010 10:29

I was about 12

when I knew I wanted to be a foster carer. A new

kid at school had just been fostered and was telling me all about how kind his new family were and what a difference they had made to his life. I thought it was amazing that someone would do that.Years later, before I got married, I informed my husband-to-be that I wanted six children of my own... and on top of that I wanted to foster loads more. Amazingly he still married me.We have four wonderful daughters; Kennedy is now 13, Eden is 12, Livvy, nine, and Brodie Lea is eight.Life didn’t go exactly how I’d planned. Our third child was born with a condition called Rett Syndrome and this left her severely disabled. However, this didn’t stop my plans

of fostering; it just changed them a little. I now wanted to foster children with special needs alongside my daughter. But this wasn’t to be. My beautiful daughter Livvy passed away in November 2008. This left my husband and I lost. We didn’t know what to do. It was our daughters who reminded me of my desire to foster. I had a fully adapted home and, as they stated, a fully adapted heart. So we started the assessment process. No one is ever going to convince me that this is an easy

process! My goodness, I spent many times screaming with frustration at what seemed to be completely pointless questions and training

sessions which made me feel like I was being told to suck eggs. As we neared the end I finally began to see the reasons behind the questions and understand. It’s hard to be that subjective when you feel like you are

under a microscope. In September 2009 we qualified as new foster carers. Alan and I were thrilled and the girls were ecstatic. We had decided to work for an independ-

ent agency called Progress Children Services. We had done our research

and were quite impressed with their policies and support for foster carers. We couldn’t wait for that first phone call. I

remember we had passed the panel on the Saturday and by the Monday I was jumping every time the phone rang. On Tuesday the phone did ring and we were offered the placement of a young boy who had been spending many months in hospital due to his severe medical needs and lack of foster carers willing to take him on. I do understand people’s fear but for us it was normal life. We were so used to medicines, hospital visits etc. This was the reason we wanted to

foster. So we now have an adorable 21 month old little boy staying with us. He has many

needs and requires 24 hours a day care. I have loads of paperwork, physio visits, early year’s visits and community nurse visits. I have also visited the children’s hospital many times in the last few months for different reasons. Yes, it is tiring but my goodness I love it. This little boy has brought something special into our home; in the last few months he has changed from a failing to thrive child, to a chubby little monster. He is progressing so quickly. It is amazing to see what love can do. Many people say, ‘I couldn’t do your job’, or ‘You are special people’. What they don’t realise is that I have the best job in the world.

A long and winding road Sara Meredith’s childhood dream to foster was a tough journey

“I had a fully adapted home...

and heart”

“We couldn’t wait for the first

phone call”

“It’s amazing to see what love

can do”

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Personal Spring 2010 foster families 5


Applying to university is exciting but can be a

challenging task to say the least.

Timing is crucial and organisation is vital. On top of this you need to find accommodation but finding the right place is not always easy.

If you’re like me and you’ve left care, it’s more daunting trying to find a house as you don’t have your parents there to support you.

Social services are there to help financially but, for me, finding accommodation was still difficult.

This was due to most landlords not wanting to deal with the social services, and mine were located in a different county to where I was

looking to study and live. This made things very complicated.

I found myself being the ‘go-between’, frequently chasing up loose ends and getting them to meet,

as well as sorting things out independently, without much information or guidance.

Housing is something that most people don’t think about until their first year at university, when they live in halls.

However when you’ve left care, you need to get on top of these things much earlier. I lived in shared housing with university students from the age of 16, while I was at college.

Back then, finding a landlord who would take me was not easy

because I was young and social services were my financial support.

It was a stressful ordeal to say the least, but I’m sure it would be hard for any 16 year old to find a landlord.

A care leaver’s search for home

Turned away from rented accommodation because she was a careleaver, Carla Nicholson’s story is one of struggle and disappointment. Read on to find out more...

“Finding a landlord who would take me

was not easy” “I thought things would be different

at 18 - I was wrong”

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You’re not aloneIf you’re 16 or 17 and a care leaver, the social

services who last looked after you are still responsible for you until you turn 18.

The housing and homelessness charity, Shelter, says that social services should help you find accommodation, whether a children’s home, foyer, hostel, bed and breakfast or flat, and also provide for you financially. Contact your personal advisor for more info, or go to www.shelter.org.uk.


So when I was 18 I thought things would be different.

I was wrong – at 18 I was shocked to find the whole situation repeat itself. I was turned away left, right and centre by letting agents.

I was told the same thing: “Sorry. We don’t deal with social services.”

I couldn’t help but feel hurt. I hadn’t realised how hard it would be just to find somewhere to live.

I felt penalised for being different and unfairly judged without even a second glance.

For a while it felt like there was no hope in finding a home, but fortunately I had a friend who had also been in care and had a flat of her own. I stayed with her and later lived there alone when she moved on.

It feels like pure chance that my friend and I found a landlord who understood our situation. I’m sure other

care leavers have found it the same when looking into housing.

If you’re going through it now remember: having been in care doesn’t make you an unworthy tenant!

Some universities are now renting out student accommodation through the vacation period, which makes life much easier.

Contact your care leaver representative at your school, college or university and ask for help to get you through the tough times.

More than a degree° of care and support

Avery Hill Greenwich Medway

At the University of Greenwich we recognise the unique challenges faced by care leavers coming into higher education. To help you make the best of your time at university and achieve your full potential, we can provide:

● a dedicated team offering on-going support and mentoring from before application through to graduation and fi nding a job

● advice on the fi nancial support available including help with the cost of open day visits and a Care Leavers bursary of £1000 per year, subject to conditions

● taster days and free study skills courses.

The University of Greenwich has been awarded the Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark in recognition of our commitment to working with and supporting care leavers in higher education.

0800 005 006 www.gre.ac.uk/careleavers

More help availableIf you are a young person in, or leaving, care and would like more information on what’s available to you, please see the Aimhigher representative in your school or college. You can also visit www.aimhigherkentandmedway.org and look at these web pages: ‘Young People in and Leaving Care’ and ‘Materials’.

www.aber.ac.uk/wpsi

Gweithio Gyda Myfyrwyr sy’n Gadael Gofal -Ein hymroddiad ni i’ch dyfodol chi

Er mwyn cael cymorth a chyngor cyn i chi gyrraedd (mewn Dyddiau Agored, dyddiau ymweld, etc.), drwy’r broses ymgeisio,

ac wrth i chi gyrraedd, astudio, ac ymlaen i’ch graddio, cysylltwch â DEBRA CROFT yn y Ganolfan Ehangu Cyfranogiad

E-bost: [email protected] Ffôn: 01970 622681,neu Tecst: 07968 77 55 23

workinG with students froM Care- our commitmEnt to your futurE

For help and advice before arrival (at Open Days, visitingdays, etc.), through the application process, arrival, progression,

and on to graduation, contact DEBRA CROFT in the Centre for Widening Participation

E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01970 622681,or Txt: 07968 77 55 23


Allegations in Foster Care; a Training Course for Social Workers and

Foster Carers Fostering; a position of trust This course will enable you to

• Minimise allegations • Reduce placement breakdown • Retain Foster Carers • Understand the benefits of Independent Support

www.fosteringsupport.co.uk

To register interest for in-house training or at one of our training events throughout the UK please contact

[email protected] or 01730231603

Links to CWDC Standard 6

£129.00 + £22.58 VAT—Total £151.58

Events Planned for - • Edinburgh– June 8th • Birmingham—June

10th • Exeter—June 15th • Liverpool—June 17th • Cardiff– June 22nd • Cambridge—June

24th

Make your family giggle with a Saronti personalised photo

book

Funny, rhyming personalised stories where both the illustrations and the text can

feature from two up to seven of your family members. Character faces are made up from photos of your family members and the text features their names too. Get the kids a great gift, and make it their favourite picture book. Laugh together at the funny character roles in the story.For your chance to win, simply email [email protected] with the subject line ‘Saronti’ or send your answer to Foster Families Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB.Competition closes May 10th 2010. The first entry drawn will win.

WIN a

Personalised

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Spector Pro records everything they do on the computer – their chats, instant messages, emails, the web sites they visit… and much more. Plus, with Spector Pro’s advanced screen snapshots feature, you not only see what they do, you see the exact order in which they do it, step by step.

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Foster care - YOUR advice

1Find something to give praise for every day. A simple please or thank you can take a lot of courage and effort from a young person. - Terry Fitzer 2Don’t expect

rewards. Rewards usually come out of the

blue... and are worth their weight in gold. - Yvonne Middleton

3Keep in touch with your friends and aim to go out with them at least once a month. When you do, don’t talk about fostering! - Lisa Macdonald 4You need

patience and understand-ing. Remem-ber to make

time for yourself and always talk your prob-lems through. - Lesley Body-Owen5Don’t have televisions in children’s

bedrooms, be consistently consistent, and find something to laugh about each day. - Nick Lowe

What’s your top fostering tip? Email it to [email protected], or post your advice to: Foster Families, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB, and it could go in our Summer 2010 issue.

We know our readers are wonderful foster carers. You sent in your fostering tips, and we’ve chosen our top five:


HayMax

If you dread the start of spring due to the sneezing and watery eyes that come from hayfever, we’ve found an effective, drug-free, non-drowsy answer for all ages. Caroline Bays said: “My 10 year old son was taking Piriton, nasal sprays, eye drops and was getting nose bleeds at all times of the day or night. My friend gave me a pot of HayMax™ and said it might help. I stopped the medicine over a couple of days - he then managed the whole of last summer

with just one pot of HayMax!”This simple but effective nose balm deals with the cause of hayfever rather

than the symptoms. Real essential oils

are used, so as not to trigger further allergic reactions.You can apply HayMax™ when symptoms start and alongside other hayfever products.It is completely drug-free, so is suitable for both pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. And of course it’s great for children,

especially at exam time.HayMax™ is available in three organic varieties – Pure, Lavender and Aloe Vera - which all come in convenient pocket-sized tubs.A high melting point makes HayMax™ last a long time. It is non-visible, has no unpleasant smell and can also be used with make-up.HayMax™ retails at £6.95 for a 5ml pot that can last all summer, and is available from www.haymax.biz, on 01525 406600 and many pharmacies, chemists and health food stores nationwide.

HayMax™ Packs a Punch with Pollen

“Just one pot all summer”

Health Spring 2010 foster families 10

Foster Families Order Form

Fill in the following form, crossing out as appropriate, and send it along with a cheque made payable to ‘Foster Families’, to: Subscriptions, Foster Families, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JA*.Name: _____________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________

Postcode: ___________________________

Email Address: ______________________

Yearly subscription: £7

Paid by: Cheque/ Money transfer/PayPal

*Payments can also be made via PayPal to [email protected], or at www.fosterfamilies.co.uk.Email [email protected] for more payment options.

Putting a career on the back burner to become a full-time foster carer is an easy choice

for some families and a very difficult decision for others. Either way, going full-time entails numerous adjustments and challenges... as well as rewards and joy.As a foster carer I don't need to tell you that the more available you are the more placements you will be offered. This is due to the intense and complex needs of many looked after children and potential impacts on a placement stability.In the ideal world foster parents could be available full-time to provide the care and support that your children need. Yet in reality this is often not

financially viable.For those carers who are considering this transition but need a few extra ideas to bridge the financial gap, here are some things you could consider trying:• Check with your agency for work you could do for them, perhaps from home.• Consider transitioning in stages by asking your employer about part-time work possibilities.• Look for additional income streams, - maybe get rid of some of your clutter on eBay, or in the Foster Families Swap Shop.• Talk to other carers who are full-time to find out what they are doing.• Create a budget and decide what expenses are not necessary. Pay off

as much debt as possible, and start saving if you do not already.• If you have a partner, ask them to support your decision. They could approach their employer and ask for a raise.• Research ways to save money on groceries, gifts, transport and utilities. This can include growing your own garden, making gifts, giving up a car, and taking efforts to conserve energy.

Michael Dennis is the founder of the UK’s first online social network of foster carers - Fostercare World.He is also a dual heritage careleaver and a Panel Supervisor

Can you afford to foster full-time? Michael Dennis shares his tips on making it work for your family

Making full-time work

Now you can save some money with CEWE PHOTOBOOK! How often do you take lots of great digital photos of the family and then forget to do anything with them? Well, no more. Now you can treasure those memories in a photo book keepsake.

‘Cewe Photobook’ are offering two readers the chance to win a photo book worth £50. A perfect way to get your digital family photos printed as a book, it lets you design your own high-quality photo books from digital images in as little as three minutes! ‘Cewe Photobooks’ allow you to tell the story the way you want to. If you can’t wait to win, you can see your digital photos in a real book now by creating your very own ‘Cewe Photobook’ at www.cewe-photobook.co.uk. Simply email [email protected] with the subject line ‘CEWE Photobook’ along with your name, address and child’s name, or post to Foster Families Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB to enter. Competition closing date is May 10th 2010. The first two entries drawn will win the prize.

Win a ‘CEWE PHOTOBOOK’ worth £50 and cherish your family moments! COMPETITION


Advice Spring 2010 foster families 11

COMPETITION

I find it hard to imagine how life

must feel to a child in care, wondering how long they will remain living in their present home, whether they will stay in touch with members of their family, whether they will one day leave the people they live with and never see them again. The closest I get to understanding is when I think about how stressful moving house was for me – me, a competent mature adult. Anyone who has been through selling their present home and buying a new one will know what I mean. Now think of how you would have felt if this had been the scenario:You are told you are going to move to a new house which

will be lovely and which you will like very much. People who care about you are sure you will be happy there.But no-one can tell you where that house is or when you will be moving. It could be weeks or years.Your partner/children may not

be able to live with you.You may have to go a long way away and may need to change your job.But don’t worry, you are told, it will all be fine.

Can you imagine how anxious

such a scenario would make you feel? And this is almost exactly the situation many children in care are faced with. It is nobody’s fault. We can’t give certainty of dates, location, or details of contact, while everyone is looking very hard to find the best package for the child. So they live with uncertainty.Then, when certainty and a clear plan finally comes, it may bring further anxieties. Let’s imagine the situation for you again.You are told that the house you will move to is 300 miles away. It is a

large detached house, a much better house than the one you live in now.You do not know anyone in that area.A new job has been found for you with the same salary and conditions as the one you have now.Your partner can move with you, and two of your children.Your 12 year old son will be going to live with another family as it has been decided that he should continue at his present school until after A levels. You will see him three times a year.Some of the feelings you are experiencing are likely to be very similar to those the child in care experiences when they are told of a

“Think about how stressful moving house was”

Jaqueline Siner shares her top tips to ease the stress of moving on

Did you know that moving house is considered to be one of the most stressful experiences of your life? A survey by Anum Ltd revealed that moving house was the MOST stressful situation for 44% of people in the UK.

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The uncertainty of moving can be an anxious and tearful time - follow Jaqueline’s tips to make it easier for the child in your care

Intolerance of uncertaintyThe inability to tolerate uncertain-ty is an attitude many people have towards life. They often worry, believing that this is their only strategy for making things in life more certain and predictable*.

Moving - a child’s nightmare

*Taken from http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/docs/GAD-8_Accepting-Uncertainty.pdf



move. For most of us, knowing what is going to happen is better than living with uncertainty. But for the child in care this is still an anxious time.

Your role - Jaqueline’s Top 5 Tips to minimise stress for the child in your careWhat ways are there that a foster carer can minimise the stress for children as they go through moves?1. Keep them informedIn an age appropriate way, tell them everything about the move that is certain, and be honest about which bits haven’t been decided yet.If some things are staying the same for them such as going to the same school, or having the same contact with birth family, this will be a help in maintaining a continuous thread in their lives. Remind them of that.2. Keep them includedContinue to include them in future planning for your family, on the lines of, “and if things get a bit delayed for you, you’ll do all that with us too, and if not you’ll be doing other nice stuff with your new family.” It would feel very strange to be living with a family in December and not

hear anyone talk about Christmas!3. Plan what they will take with them. Having familiar things around you helps you settle in somewhere. Bedding seems to have particular importance. Taking their pillowcase and duvet cover, still smelling of the

fabric conditioner you use, can help a child settle in those first few nights of sleeping in a new bed.Favourite, very battered toys need to go, and other things significant to the child, even if they are apparently silly things – like the old rusty trowel they always used when digging in the garden.Make sure they have photos of you,

and of things they have done with you as a family.4. Keep in contact?Consider whether contact with you once they have moved on would help them, and suggest it to the social worker if no-one asks. This will depend on how long the child has been with you and the circumstances of their move. Indirect contact can be a lovely way of maintaining the continuous thread without it becoming an emotional burden for you or for them. In some circumstances direct contact will be right for all of you.5. Encourage a stable friendshipWhat about more formal arrangements for keeping the continuous thread of the child’s emotional life from breaking?Might it help a child to have a ‘befriender’, someone who maintains contact with them throughout all the moves? If there is a member of the birth family who can do this in a way that supports the placements, this is ideal. A good role for a grandparent perhaps. A foster carer who is maintaining a level of contact during later moves would also be a good choice.It would need to be clear to whoever takes on this role, and to the child, that this was a ‘friend’ and no more. The role of this person must never

conflict with that of the new carer or the social worker. That could mean the thread gets tangled! This would not be a person to complain to with the expectation they

would ‘sort it out’. There is a danger the child could

find the role a rather empty one. If having such a befriender is going to keep the thread unbroken, it’s a good idea. But if it gets broken anyway, because the befriender loses interest or for any reason has to stop, it could do more harm than good. As with so much about planning for a child in care, it is important to consider that individual child and their individual circumstances. Keep the child in focus and the rest should fall into place.

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“Knowing what will happen is better than uncertainty”

Comfort of smellA study at the University of Oklahoma showed newborns to stop crying when presented with a gown smelling of their mother. The soothing emotions linked to Mum also link to her scent. A favourite toy can have the same effect.



Competition Spring 2010 foster families 14

“The University of Winchester has been very supportive. If it wasn’t for the staff at the University – I would never have had the confidence to apply. The level of support received is fantastic and it’s given me confidence to know that I have such an excellent support network behind me.”

Find out more:

Leanne Hart:

Benefits include:

• King Alfred Scholarship, worth £2,050• Special help and support with housing arrangements• Designated Welfare Adviser• Strong partnerships with local authorities

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Support for care leavers at Winchester

Find out more:Terri SandisonT: 01962 827225E: [email protected]

CD Giveaway!Don’t get bored on your next family car journey - enter our competition and you could win 2 CDs from Mediak. These fantastic music and story CDs feature your foster child’s name, making for an exciting and self-esteembuilding listen. Mediak sports CDs make your child feel like they are in the big game, scoring goals and winning matches. Simply email [email protected] with the subject line ‘Mediak’ along with your name, address and child’s name, or post to Foster Families Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB to enter. Competition closing date is May 10th 2010. The first entry drawn will win the prize. Visit www.kidsmusiccds.co.uk for more information.

COMPETITIONImprint:

Foster Families Magazine

Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester

WR1 1JBwww.foster-families.co.uk

Published by: Ceressa Bateman Editor: Ceressa

BatemanEditorial Tel:

01905 747924Email: ceressa@fosterfamilies.

co.ukAdvertising Email:

[email protected]

Printed by: Buxton Press Limited, Palace Road, Buxton,

Derbyshire, SK17 6AE

01298 21 2000

Swap shop

www.fosterfamilies.co.uk/index.

php/swap-shop

Don’t pay more! We’ve got some fantastic items for sale at www.fosterfamilies.co.uk/index.php/swap-shop. Why pay out for something brand new when there are plenty of second-hand op-tions? If there’s anything you like, then get in touch and save some money. Swap your items here! Let other foster carers get some use out of those pushchairs, toys, bikes and other things you no longer use. If you’ve got any useful bits and bobs you no longer need, then you can list them on here. Simply email [email protected] with your name, address, phone number, a description of the item, and a price.

Hiome Spring 2010 foster families 15

If you’re a short term foster carer, it can sometimes feel like the children’s bedroom is a bit like a

hotel room. By the time one child’s emptied out their bags, it’s time to pack everything away again and get ready for the next arrival. When you have a number of foster children coming and going it can be hard, and expensive, to put each child’s mark on the room, and make it feel like ‘their’ room.Repainting the walls can be a tedious and messy job, but it’s important for the child to feel at home and know that inside these four walls is ‘their space’. Mandy Watkins offers some wonderful advice on cheap and easy ways to personalise the bedroom for each child that moves into it, helping them to feel settled and part of the household. Take a look at what she says:

Feel at homeWhen introducing a new child to

your home, it’s important to make them feel as comfortable in their new surroundings as possible. There are a few ways you can individualise a child’s room without spending lots of money.

Get creativeArt is a good way to start. Why not get them to make a picture which they can put up in their new space? A good one to try is to paint a tree. Depending on the age of the child they might need some help with the trunk.When it comes to the leaves, put

some green paint on a plate and let them be creative with their hands! Hand prints make great leaves.If you use some lining

paper and make it quite big they can add to the picture, so if you go for a walk they can bring some leaves and turn it into a collage. This would be a great project for you and the child. Another good one is making

a collage out of items you find on a beach. This is brilliant if you live near a beach! If not, it makes for an

exciting day out. Putting some shells in a decorative jar not only looks nice but creates a happy memory too.

Sam Pullara “Collages not only look nice but create happy memories”

“Introduce items that they would

appreciate”

Don’t let your foster child feel like a visitor in somebody else’s bedroom. Mandy Watkins shares how you can individualise their room for no cost

Making a child feel like part of the furniture

By Mandy Watkins, Interior DesignerFind Mandy at: www.mandywatkinsinteriors.co.uk

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Whether on paper, or directly onto the wall, painting is a good way to individualise their room

Competition Spring 2010 foster families 14



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A nice touch - a road rug can keep boys entertained for hours

Be inspired by your own homeOften when looking around your home you get an idea of what makes your house yours. When you look around what makes you feel at home? Is it the pictures on the wall? Or the decorative items on the mantelpiece? Or is it even the smell? Think about what is comforting to you, and as you get to know the child you can introduce items to their room that you think they might appreciate.

Make it playful It is important for a child’s environment to be stimulating as well as relaxing. Every child likes different things. If you have a box of toys, encourage them to pick out some that they particularly like. You can then put these in their own box in their bedroom. If you get a box with a flat surface, you could paint it with some blackboard paint and the child could personalise it as often as they wanted!

Keep walls neutralIf the room is to be used for both boys and girls over time, make sure that you keep the walls and curtains neutral. It is easier to chop and change looks if the canvas is plain. You can then try the following to make a bedroom fit for a king or

queen:

Fun for boysBoys love cars so a rug with a road print is a great way of sprucing up the room. Not only will he think it looks great, but it will also provide hours of entertainment.

Pretty pink for girlsGirls love almost anything pink and girly. Fairy lights are a nice touch in a girl’s

room, but be careful if they are young!

Show offChildren love to make things so give them a pin board to place the items they make. You could also encourage them to make a door hanger by decorating an empty shower gel bottle. That way they stamp their name on the door and it gives them a sense of belonging.

DecorateAnother great idea is to get creative with a plain old lampshade. All you need is a glue gun, some buttons and some ribbon, and they can accessorize it to their heart’s content.Being creative with children very rarely costs money, it just takes a little imagination, and most kids when encouraged have plenty of that!

Making the child feel secure is imperative. By adding these personal touches bit by bit it will help make a child feel at home.

A few simple touches can make a room feel personal to the child, and bring some big smiles



FOSTERING AGENCIES - LET’S ALL WORK TOGETHER!The Simply Fostering Enquiry Clearing House - How it works!

1Fostering agency receives an enquiry about becoming a foster carer.

2Fostering agency refers the enquirer to Simply Fostering as the applicant is out of the area your agency covers or does not

meet agency’s criteria.

3If the enquirer then proceeds to approval by another fostering agency they are introduced to through Simply Fostering, the

original agency receives an administration fee of £100. If your agency is interested in using this service to help increase the number and therefore choice of foster carers for children throughout the UK, please express your interest by contacting:

Annette WebbSimply Fostering

[email protected] few simple touches can make a room feel personal to the child, and bring some big smiles

Choice Matters is a fresh and engaging interactive DVD-rom that will enable you to give your fostered child the best start in life by supporting them to make informed choices.

This essential tool is packed full of comprehensive information and advice, alongside inspirational footage of young people and foster carers discussing their own experiences.

Throughout the DVD-rom there is also reference to CWDC training and development standards for foster carers, helping you to meet these standards in an interesting and engaging way.

Exclusive 5% discount for Foster Families readers – quote offer code CHOICEMATTERS5

How to order1. Order online: www.thewhocarestrust.org.uk/publications.php2. Pay by cheque: Please send a cheque payable to

‘The Who Cares? Trust’ to Publications, The Who? Cares? Trust, Kemp House, 152-160 City Road, London EC1V 2NP

Own two feet – the blog for young people in carehttp://owntwofeet.wordpress.com/


familiesChris’s Cookery Class

Which flower?

Burt, the bumblebee, wants to find some pollen. Follow the lines to find out which flower he chooses.

Win!Enter our competition for your chance

to win ‘The Wheels on The Bus’ and ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’ DVDs.

These brand new DVDs from Kids Music Shop both contain 20 different songs to sing and dance to.

For more info go to: www.kidsmusicshop.co.uk. Each DVD is worth £4.99.

1 2 3

S P R I N G B D HW L A M B S L A OI B I R F F U N LM A N O L W E C IM K B Y O O B I DI I O U W R E N AN N W B E O L G YG G A T R D L V SF O O T B A L L D

SpringBluebellFunSwimmingFootballLambsRainbowHolidaysDancingFlowerBaking

COMPETITION

To win these DVDs, all you have to do is find the words listed above in the grid.

Once you have found them all, the leftover letters will spell out a phrase.

Write down the phrase, and email it to [email protected] or send your answer to Foster Families Kids Competitions, Flat 2,

2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. Remember to include your name and address. The first correct entry drawn will win the prize. Closing date is May 10th 2010.

Kids Corner Spring 2010 foster families 18Kids Corner!


foster fami-lies

Spring 2010

Across1. New world in Avatar (7)5. Facebook, Google, Hotmail all found here (8)6. Norway’s capital (4)7. Comedian and presenter, Stephen ___ (3)9. __ Somebody, Kings of Leon song (2)10. 10ml, or one __ of alcohol (4)13. Da Vinci ____ , 2003 novel (4)14. ______ Graham, Dancing on Ice contestant (5)

Down1. Fictional Belgian detective (6)2. ________ Cassidy, Strictly Come Dancing celebrity (7)3. Vegetable also known as Ladies Fingers (4)4. Winner of Celebrity Big Brother 2010 (4, 4)8. Gary ____ , Dancing on Ice contestant (4)9. Low cost airline, ___ Baby (3)11. Dr. __ , Bond film (2)12. Annual hike across Dartmoor, ___ Tors (3)

Competition closing date is May 10th 2010

For your chance to win, use the questions, right, to fill out the

crossword. The coloured squares are an anagram of a word linked to Pontin’s. Once you’ve worked that out, email your answer to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Pontin’s’, or post it to: Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. Don’t forget to include your name and address. The first correct entry drawn will win the prize.

Win

Pontin’s have been delivering outstanding value for money holidays for over 60 years and now include even more fun

and activities for all the family.With four great self-catering Holiday Parks in England and Wales to choose from, you are never far away from days of action and adventure and nights full of music and dance.The fantastic Bluecoats are always on hand to create a fun atmosphere for everyone whether they are performing in one of their fabulous shows, running quizzes and karaoke or keeping the kids amused. Children will have a magical time – imagine a place where they can walk on water; where a fluffy green crocodile, a beautiful zebra, a cheeky monkey and a dancing ostrich come to life to entertain; a place where they can get the opportunity to take part in talent and dance competitions or even become a Young Bluecoat – that’s Pontin’s.Plus live music and top cabaret, up to 70 activities included from swimming, water polo and aqua jets to circus skills, crazy golf and human table football and much more. More details at www.pontins.com And now you can win a three or four night family break to Pontin’s. The prize is for a family of four in a Self Catering Classic apartment at a choice of four coastal Holiday Parks: Brean Sands in Somerset; Camber Sands in East Sussex, Prestatyn Sands in North Wales and Southport, and Ainsdale Beach in North West England.Terms and Conditions1. All places are subject to availability at time of booking.2. Prize is for a one bedroom Classic apartment, for up to 4 persons (adult or child) to be taken by 30th October 2010, excluding dates between 31/07/10 and 28/08/10, Bank Holidays & Special Events.3. Open to UK residents aged 18 or over, except employees of the Ocean Parcs Ltd and their families.4. Only one entry per person is permitted

Win a Pontin’s holiday

And, if you’re not successful in winning the competition, you can still be a winner with a break at Pontin’s from only £137 for a family of four at May half term by ringing 0844 576 5960 or go to www.pontins.com

COMPETITIONWin a free family break to Pontin’s

foster families spring 2010 sample

Documents