4/8/2008 | thousands of 'foster' children lost to care system |
Times, p18 |
Thousands of young children are at risk of neglect or abuse because the system set up to protect them in the wake of the death of Victoria Climbié is failing.
|
8/4/2008 | Couple who smack their daughter as 'last resort' cannot be foster parents |
Daily Telegraph |
A couple have been prevented from fostering after insisting on the right to smack their own daughter 'as a last resort'
|
20/4/2007 | Sadistic foster mother sentenced to 14 years in jail |
The Guardian, p13 |
A sadistic foster mother who subjected three children in her care to horrifying physical and mental abuse over two decades was jailed for 14 years yesterday
|
22/3/2007 | This evil, wicked, horrid witch of a woman should never be let out |
The Mirror |
WICKED foster mum Eunice Spry - convicted of torturing three children over 20 years - should spend the rest of her life in jail, campaigners said yesterday.
Michelle Elliot, director of children's charity Kidscape said: "Yes we do need to blame those who should have been watching out for this evil, wicked, horrid witch of a woman.
"But the bottom line is she is the one responsible for her actions. She should never get out of prison."
Spry, 62, routinely beat, abused and starved the two girls and a boy as punishments.
|
9/3/2007 | Catholic girl sues after being sent to protestant fosterers |
The Times, p21 |
A Roman Catholic teenager has brought a landmark legal action against a council for sending her to live with Protestant foster parents.The young woman, identified only as “AR”, is seeking damages of £70,000 from Highland council for housing her with two sets of Protestant foster parents after she was taken into care aged 8. Now 18, she has been granted legal aid to mount a case against the council and was yesterday given the go-ahead for it to be heard in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Scot-land’s supreme civil court.
|
14/11/2006 | Superdad rejected as a foster parent because he used the word "foreigner" |
Daily Express, p7 |
A loving couple who hoped to become foster parents were rejected when one used the words “white foreigner”.
|
14/11/2006 | Fostered kids fear |
The Sun, p4 |
Up to 20,000 vulnerable kids fostered by members of their own family could be at risk of abuse because of loopholes in new laws, it has emerged. Lib Dem family spokesman Annette Brooke said "This is a gaping hole in legislation meant to protect vulnerable children."
|
17/10/2006 | Carers sought for baby Charlotte as parents part |
The Times, p29 |
A severely disabled girl whose parents fought a long court battle for her right to live is to be fostered because the couple have separated. Charlotte Wyatt, who is about to celebrate her third birthday despite doctors’ predictions that she would not live to see it, is stranded in hospital while social service officials struggle to find her a home.
|
17/10/2006 | One third of foster parents suffer false abuse claims |
The Times, p14 |
One third of foster parents have been falsely accused of abusing or harming children in their care, according to a study on the risks of fostering. The findings reveal that four out of five accused of harm believed that the ensuing investigation was unfair. Many said that they were never told what they were accused of doing.
|
16/10/2006 | Council faces inquiry into how boy was taken from foster mother |
The Guardian |
A London social services department faces an investigation into why it abruptly removed a victim of child trafficking from the foster mother with whom he had bonded.
|
10/10/2006 | Foster children to gain right to stay in care until 21 |
The Times, p26 |
Children in care will be given rights to stay with foster parents until they are 21 in a government move to improve their prospects as adults. Foster parents will be paid salaries to professionalise their role. The measures are in a Green Paper aimed at improving the lives of the 60,000 children in care, who are more likely to be unqualified, unemployed, homeless or in prison than those brought up by parents. Features quotes from The Fostering Network.
|
10/10/2006 | Foster parents may get salary in care reforms |
The Guardian, p13 |
Sweeping reforms to improve the life chances of children in care were proposed by the education secretary, Alan Johnson, yesterday as he outlined plans to improve their emotional and financial security. He said it was "inexcusable and shameful" that the state as proxy parent "seems too often to reinforce" early disadvantages.
|
14/9/2006 | Foster Care |
Community Care |
A £1m scheme to help foster carers improve the educational achievement of fostered children has been launched in Norther Ireland.
|
22/8/2006 | I’ve been mum to 310 children ..and I haven't finished yet |
The Mirror, p28-2 |
Most 59-year-old grandmothers would be glad to put their feet up and relax after the hard work of child-rearing - not Sue Walker. Supermum Sue loves having children around so much that she has fostered 310 of them over the years and shows no sign of stopping. She and husband Norman, a 62-year-old retired steelworker from Sheffield, have been foster parents for 27 years as well as bringing up their own daughters Lianne, 34, and Kealy, 32. As Sue explains, she simply loves being a mum.
|
22/8/2006 | Foster carers are left short of cash |
Western Mail, p4 |
Hundreds of Welsh foster carers are out of pocket because of a 3m funding shortfall, a report by the Fostering Network shows today.
|
22/8/2006 | Letter: Children should have equality |
Children Now, p14 |
We are pleased the Government has set suggested national minimum allowances for foster carers at a higher level than originally proposed (Children Now, 2-15 August). It is an important step in ensuring foster carers have the resources they need to look after some of our most vulnerable children.
But these allowances are for the basics, to pay for the essential costs of looking after a child: food, clothes, transport, toys. They do not take into account the cost of birthdays, holidays or increased housing costs.
If we are serious about improving outcomes for looked-after children they must have the same opportunities as other children. This means a continuing and concerted effort to ensure that when children become the responsibility of the state they can and will get the best. David Holmes, chief executive, British Association for Adoption & Fostering
|
3/8/2006 | New allowances can 'only cover basics' |
Community Care (3-9 August), p11 |
Details of the newly announced minimum fostering allowances for England and Wales, featuring quotes from David Holmes and Fostering Network.
|
2/8/2006 | Minimum allowance still 'far too low' |
Children Now (2-12 August), p8 |
Report on the national minimum allowances release last week. Features quotes from David Holmes.
|
27/7/2006 | Cash initiative aims to encourage more foster parents |
The Guardian |
The government is hoping to encourage more people to consider fostering vulnerable children by introducing a national minimum allowance for carers. The Fostering Network charity has estimated there is a shortfall of around 10,000 carers, forcing many children into short-term or institutional placements
|
27/6/2006 | Legislation update |
The Times (Public Agenda) |
Stephen Cragg talks about a recent case involving Southwark council about a private fostering case.
|
13/6/2006 | Early enlightenment |
The Guardian (Society),, p 7 |
A fresh approach to recruiting foster carers is helping to enlist much-needed new families. Featuring information from The Fostering Network and Oxfordshire council
|
7/6/2006 | Foster gran |
The Daily Express, p11 |
The carer who takes in a teenage mother and her 1 year old son. Details of a new initiative set up by the Foster Care Co-operative as part of pioneering project to help struggling families. The idea was developed in Scandinavia in a bid to avoid the separation of vulnerable young mothers and their children.
|
23/5/2006 | Gay foster parents face long spell in jail for abuse |
Independent, p9 |
Yorkshire’s first gay foster couple are facing a "substantial period" in jail this morning after being convicted of sexually abusing vulnerable boys placed in their care.
Ian Wathey and his partner Craig Faunch, approved as foster carers by Wakefield Council in July 2003, were found guilty yesterday at Leeds Crown Court of a series of sex offences against youngsters.
|
23/5/2006 | Gay foster couple facing long jail terms for abuse |
Yorkshire Post |
David Holmes is quoted in the Yorkshire Post. He said it was important not to confuse the sexuality of the carers with committing sex crimes against children. But he added: "This is a dreadful case. The crimes this couple committed are a shocking betrayal of the vulnerable children involved."
|
18/5/2006 | Letters: A register for foster carers |
Children Now, p15 |
Letter from Barbara Hutchinson agreeing that foster carers should be registered with the GSCC.
|
17/5/2006 | Taking care of the care business |
Society Guardian Online |
A new CSCI report highlights how a shortage of foster carers causes a lack of placement choice and can lead to low educational achievement by children in care. But that needn't be the case. Joanna Lyall finds some exceptions to the rule. Barbara Hutchinson quoted.
|
11/5/2006 | Fostering Fortnight |
Daily Mirror, p52-5 |
Four page advertising supplement about Fostering Fortnight
|
10/5/2006 | Boys ‘abused by gay foster pair’ Couple deny sex charges |
Daily Express, p9 |
The two men went on to molest several children after a local authority failed to properly investigate claims of indecency on one victim, it was claimed.
Homosexual partners Ian Wathey, 40, and Craig Faunch, 32, allegedly videoed and performed sex acts on troubled boys put into their care by Wakefield council in West Yorkshire.
They had been approved by social services in July 2003, but within a month abused the position of trust for their own sexual gratification, a jury heard.
|
9/5/2006 | It’s a foster family affair |
Scotsman, p16-1 |
Double page spread including an interview with an older foster carer and an article which says that TFN is calling on the Scottish Executive to impose an upper limit of three children in line with England, Wales and NI.
|
9/5/2006 | Parents with learning difficulties need support |
BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show |
Around half of parents with learning difficulties have their children removed from them. A new study, launched today, outlines the support needed to enable parents with learning difficulties and their children to stay together as a family.
|
4/5/2006 | Love and understanding |
The Independent, p2 |
With 10,000 homes needed to house all of the children in care, fostering agencies have their nets wide. With comments from Barbara Hutchinson.
|
21/4/2006 | Britain's best foster family |
Daily Mirror, p17 |
Biker David Quick may look menacing but he's more angel than Hell's Angel ... and has just been voted Britain's best foster parent along with his wife Tracey. Jobless biker David, 36, weighs 23 stone and has a pierced ear and a metal spike through his chin. He also has 15 tattoos, beads in his beard and wears leather gear to ride his trike-bike with Tracey, 35. But the National Children's Home charity -which is trying to change public perception about fostering - say looks can be deceiving.
|
12/4/2006 | Survival tactics |
The Guardian Society, p3 |
In the second part of a three-part series on the care system, David Conn discovers that inadequate support services mean many vulnerable young people leave home ill-equipped to deal with life's challenges. With comment from Robert Tapsfield who talks about The Fostering Network's cost of fostering report.
|
3/4/2006 | A job for professionals |
0-19 magazine |
Foster carers play a major role in helping looked-after children to achieve. But do they receive enough support themselves? Diana Gollop reports. Features comments from Andrea Warman.
|
31/3/2006 | The game hated foster care |
Contactmusic.com |
Rap star the Game spent eight years in foster homes as a child after his sister accused his father of sexually molesting her. The HATE IT OR LOVE IT hitmaker and his sister have since forgiven their father for his past indiscretions, but The Game will never forgive those who put him in foster care or forget the terrible time he had there.
|
29/3/2006 | Now is the time to help...take the chance and make a big difference in chil |
The Western Mail, p18-1 |
Feature on fostering
|
29/3/2006 |
|
The Daily Mail, p34-3 |
Interview with Sarra Pond, a former celebrity hairdresser, who decided to foster after a life changing event.
|
27/3/2006 | Vegetarians refused foster care |
BBC News Manchester |
A couple who were told they could not become foster parents because they are vegetarians have persuaded their county council to think again.
|
23/3/2006 | Cathy is crowned mum of the year |
Daily Mail, p60 & |
Interview with foster mother who has been named as the winner of the Daily Mail's first Mum of the Year award.
|
22/3/2006 | Ban on CRB checks puts children at risk |
Children Now |
Foster children could be at risk because the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has stopped vetting some people who care for them after discovering it was illegal. Government-backed guidelines state that it is best practice to carry out CRB checks on regular visitors to foster carers' households. Features comments from Andrea Warman
|
13/3/2006 | Councils will take children from smokers |
The Sunday Times |
One of Scotland’s biggest local authorities is threatening to remove foster children from smokers. New rules introduced by Dundee city council will ban smokers from adopting and fostering children under the age of five unless they agree to keep their homes smoke free. Features quotes from John Simmonds.
|
13/3/2006 | Charity in call for welsh foster parents' helpline |
Evening Leader |
A leading fostering charity is calling on the Welsh Assembly Government to provide funding for a vital helpline offering support and advice to foster carers. Fostering Network, who provide valuable advice and guidance for foster carers, claim that carers in Wales are not given the support they need, as foster carers in England already have access to Fosterline, a free helpline funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and run by the Fostering Network.
|
13/3/2006 | Mum denies assaulting foster kids |
This is Gloucestershire |
A former foster mother has denied 36 offences of cruelty and physical and indecent assault on three children in her care. The 61-year-old woman, from Gloucestershire, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to 13 charges of cruelty to children, 13 charges of assault causing actual bodily harm, two of unlawful wounding and eight of indecent assault.
|
9/3/2006 | Wanted: new foster parents |
The Herald |
A drive to recruit younger foster carers was launched yesterday in an attempt to prevent vulnerable children from having to travel to other parts of Scotland to receive care. Featuring comments for the director of Fostering Network Scotland
|
3/3/2006 | Tough foster regime hailed as a success |
The Guardian |
A radical programme of intensive fostering designed as an alternative to a custodial sentence has been completed for the first time by a British young offender.
|
25/1/2006 | Foster carers find time to study |
This is Local London |
Specifically aimed at foster carers, the e-learning course develops essential skills and has been developed in collaboration with the British Association of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF).
|
19/12/2005 | Fear for tot after snatch |
The Sun |
A girl of two has gone missing from a day care centre — and may have been snatched by her natural mother, police revealed yesterday. Detectives said Corah Boyd has been living with foster parents. They believe real mum Rebecca Bushell, 21, picked her up from the Stonehouse Resource Centre in Leigh, Greater Manchester, on Friday.
|
16/12/2005 | Feral street gang who killed for kicks |
Telegraph online |
Four youths have been found guilty of beating a man to death and videoing the attack on a mobile phone. One of the gang, a girl, was 14 at the time.
The girl, who was in foster care, was seen making a "happy slapping" video clip to show friends before kicking her victim's head "like a football".
|
18/11/2005 | Call for foster funds |
Scotsman, p14 |
Thousands of vulnerable children in Scotland are being "rejected, abandoned and abused" because of a £65.5 million shortfall in funding for foster care services, charities said yesterday.
|
18/11/2005 | These children may not want another mum, but they want someone they can dep |
Western Mail, p12 |
FAMILIES are being asked to enlist for one of the toughest of all parenting roles, as fostering carer for "difficult" young people.
Advertisements appearing in the media for a new breed of foster carers in Swansea are pulling no punches.
|
18/11/2005 | Foster father 'hit Billie-Jo in face' |
Sun, p41 |
Billie-Jo Jenkins accused her foster father of punching her in the face after she went to school with blood round her mouth and on her shirt, the Old Bailey was told today.
Sion Jenkins, 48, is being tried for the third time for her murder, which he denies.
|
31/10/2005 | Children's plight sparks 'help' call |
The Scotsman |
The number of children in care has risen by four per cent to more than 12,000, sparking calls for urgent action to address Scotland's chronic shortage of foster parents. Features comments from The Fostering Network
|
6/3/7 | Foster carers go unpaid, says report |
The Guardian, p14 |
Most foster carers in the UK are receiving either no payment at all or less than the minimum wage in return for caring for damaged and vulnerable young people, according to a survey out today. A report by the Fostering Network reveals a postcode lottery for foster carers, in which 40% receive no fees in return for their work, apart from an allowance to cover a child's direct expenses. Three-quarters of the total are paid nothing or less than £200 a week - the equivalent of the minimum wage.
|
22/3/6 | Ban on CRB checks puts children at risk |
Children Now |
Foster children could be at risk because the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has stopped vetting some people who care for them after discovering it was illegal. Government-backed guidelines state that it is best practice to carry out CRB checks on regular visitors to foster carers' households. Features comments from Andrea Warman
|
25/7/5 | Report finds fostering shortfall |
BBC News Online |
Scottish fostering services need an additional £65.5m in funding next year, according to experts. A report, by the Fostering Network and the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), made detailed calculations to estimate the shortfall.
|
13/7/5 | Fostering salary |
The Times |
Foster carers should be paid a wage of up to £20,000 a year to provide full-time care for children and young people in local authority care, a report by the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering has recommended. It said this should be paid on top of an annual allowance of £6,000 to £12,600 for living costs.
|
7/6/5 | Foster children ask for protection |
The Guardian |
Children being privately fostered in the UK want tighter checks on their welfare than safeguards proposed by the government.
|
11/4/5 | Your essential guide to fostering and adoption |
The Voice |
16 page supplement including an article by BAAF's Selame Kidane about refugee fostering.
|
8/3/5 | The Point of contact |
Care & Health, p24 |
BAAF's Deputy Chief Executive, Barbara Hutchinson, discusses the importance of contact betwen children in foster care and their birth families.
|
27/1/5 | Why wouldn't they let me be with my dad? |
The Daily Telegraph, p23 |
What is life like for Britain's 59,000 foster children? The Daily Telegraph speaks to one girl who has lived with seven families in 11 years.
|
20/1/5 | Call for foster carers to be given a "certificate of approval" |
Community Care, p9 |
Felicity Collier, Chief Executive of BAAF, has called for foster carers to be given a "certificate of approval" which would be valid throughout the UK and could lead to the establishment of a national register.
|
BAAF does not necessarily endorse any of the publications listed and has no responsibility for the content of their websites.
