News & events

What's going on?

  • Care referrals in England have risen

    9th February, 2012

    The BBC reports today that the number of children referred into care in England has hit a record high. Read more

  • One Organisation - Disclosure and Barring Service

    18th January, 2012

    The Protection of Freedoms Bill, currently passing through Parliament, includes a proposal which will see the CRB and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) become a new organisation called the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The new organisation will be responsible for the delivery of the disclosure and barring services currently delivered by CRB and ISA. The Bill also includes provision for the reform of these services; for example, the introduction of a new, portable disclosure service – and the DBS will be responsible for delivering these services once they are introduced. The planned date for the new organisation to come into being is November 2012, subject to Parliamentary timetabling. Neither the CRB nor the ISA will relocate as part of the transition to the new organisation. As we receive more information about the formation of the DBS, we will of course keep you updated. Read more

  • 9,000 foster carers needed

    20th December, 2011

    The Fostering Network have today announced that they anticipate almost 9,000 new foster carers will be needed throughout the UK in 2012. We're currently recruiting in Central Scotland and across England and Wales. Look around the site to find out more about The Process, About The Children, Carers' Stories, What We Provide and our Support Locations. Once approved, carers have access to a password protected Carers' Support Area. Read more

  • FCC at BAAF IP Forum

    14th December, 2011

    The FCC was happy to join the BAAF IP Forum with the Children's Minister, Tim Laughton, who was answering a variety of questions on fostering. Read more

  • Ofsted: Extract from the November 2011 report

    30th November, 2011

    "This agency provides a consistently high quality service. The overall rating is good and all outcome areas are good with some outstanding features. There are no recommendations. The agency has a clear understanding of its strengths and areas for improvement which are proactively addressed in a planned and timely manner. Key features of this agency are the low caseloads for supervising social workers which helps them give outstanding support to foster carers. There is also a high level of stable placements experienced by children and young people and excellent training and resulting telephone consultation available to supervising social workers and foster carers. Six recommendations were made after the last inspection. All have been met." Read more

  • Charity Support for Children and Carers

    20th June, 2011

    The FCC Charitable Trust has been registered with the Charity Commission. Grants are available by applying to our Executive Director, Ian Brazier. The trustees of the trust may make grants that: a. Advance the education of young people who are being or have been fostered by the Foster Care Co-operative, their carers and immediate family and FCC staff. b. Relieve the financial hardship of Young People when moving from FCC foster care into independence and in order to sustain independent living. c. Satisfy a charitable need for a grant or loan amongst young people who are being or have been fostered by the FCC, their carers and immediate family or FCC staff. No grants or loans may be made until after all relevant and appropriate sources of statutory funding have been explored. Read more

  • Activity Day for English carers

    6th June, 2011

    Children, carers and staff met up at the Malvern Hills Outdoor Education Centre on Saturday June 4th for another Activity Day. Carers represented four out of the six English regions and many had travelled some considerable distance to join in the fun. This was a great day out for everyone! Read more

  • Recruitment event for the Midlands

    18th May, 2011

    Foster Care Fortnight this year runs from 16th-29th May. A recruitment event for the Birmingham area will be held at the Tesco store in Willenhall (Neptune Industrial Estate, WV13 2PZ) on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st, between 9.00 and 6.00 both days. Why not come to meet our carers and social workers for an informal chat about fostering? Read more

  • Birth Children’s Group workshop

    13th April, 2011

    FCC’s first birth children’s group took place at our Cardiff office on 25th February. Eight young people who foster were there and the group was made up of young people over the age of eleven. The day consisted of several workshops including a look at the approval process for foster carers and their families and a good discussion took place which involved the whole group. All but one of the young people present had experiences of fostering and the discussion centred on what it was like to share their parents as well as their home with a fostered child. The day was interspersed with fun activities and ice breakers which everyone seemed to enjoy. We are hoping this will be the first of many such group meetings. FCC recognises the importance and vital contribution children and young people who foster make to the lives of children who cannot live with their birth families. Read more

  • FCC represented at Birmingham conference

    19th March, 2011

    Laurie, our FCC Chairman, spoke to delegates at a conference organised by Co-operativesUK in Birmingham. He told the conference that he set up a co-operative because he was opposed to social care being run as a for-profit business and he said, "It creates conflicts of interests in the standards of care offered to vulnerable people". Read more

  • FCC is a Mentor Organisation

    10th February, 2011

    Read more

  • Worcs MP visits FCC

    28th January, 2011

    Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, visited FCC's Malvern offices to be briefed by Laurie and Ian on the background of the agency as one of the established co-operative organisations within her constituency. Mrs Baldwin is Vice Chair of the Board of the Social Investment Business and this meeting enabled her to examine a Social Enterprise, operating now for more than 11 years. Read more

  • Fostering Education Project launch at House of Lords

    26th October, 2010

    Two of our Welsh carers, Cheryl Loveday and Russell Summers, joined Laurie Gregory, Andrea Poyner and Jane Herron at a reception at The House of Lords on Tuesday 26th October to mark the launch of the Fostering Education Project. Read more

  • AGM

    25th September, 2010

    All carers and staff had the opportunity for consultation at the 2010 AGM held at our Malvern office. The Annual Report and Accounts were made available and demonstrated a year of stability and considerable investment. Read more

  • Christmas Card Competition

    20th September, 2010

    All our children have been invited to take part in the competition to find the design for this year's FCC Christmas Card. Read more

  • CRB Changes

    22nd July, 2010

    Only days away from the initiation of the new ISA registration scheme - which would have involved all FCC carers having to register with the Vetting and Barring Scheme - the system has been put on hold by the new government. Read more

  • Charitable Trust

    20th July, 2010

    Grants are available by application, initially to Ian as Executive Director and can only be made after all sources of statutory funding have been explored. Read more

  • Educational Advisor for Wales

    15th July, 2010

    Helen Shardlow started as Educational Advisor for Wales in January this year. Read more

  • All change at the Cardiff office

    12th July, 2010

    The Cardiff office has had a make over this summer and the changes are very special! Read more

  • Summer Picnic

    3rd July, 2010

    The East of England carers held their annual summer picnic on 3rd July at Fritton Lake, Suffolk. Excellent weather, lots of laughter, food, fun and games! A very good time had by all! Read more

Events