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The Ultimate Guide to Fostering
Blogs
New to fostering and unsure where to start? Our Ultimate Guide to Fostering brings everything together in one place—covering the types of care, who can foster, what the process involves, and what support and allowances you’ll receive. It’s the perfect starting point for anyone considering a future in foster care.
Ex-Partner Checks in Fostering: Can They Be Avoided? [Mumsnet FAQs]
Blogs
Ex-partner checks are a common concern during fostering assessments. In this guide, we explain why they matter, when they might be avoided, and how your circumstances are always considered with empathy and care—ensuring you feel supported every step of the way.
Building Positive Birth Family Connections: A Guide for Foster Parents
Blogs
As a foster parent, you play a key role in helping children stay connected with their birth families. This guide explores why these relationships matter, how to support healthy contact, and why empathy is essential in maintaining long-term emotional wellbeing for children in care.
Foster Care Meetings: What New Foster Parents Need to Know
Blogs
If you’re new to fostering, you may wonder what kind of meetings you’ll need to attend as part of your role. In this article, we explore foster care meetings in detail, including the types of meetings you’ll attend, how often they’ll occur, who else will attend, and how to prepare.
The Ultimate Self-Care Guide for Foster Parents
Blogs
Fostering is an incredibly rewarding career, but it can feel like a rollercoaster at times as you balance navigating the ups and downs while caring for your mental and physical wellbeing. This Mental Health Awareness Week we’re raising awareness with our top 10 self-care tips for foster parents.
My First Month with a Foster Child
Blogs
We’re sharing expert tips from our foster parents on how to have a successful first month with your foster child. Plus download our First Month Checklist to help you stay organised.
Should I Foster or Adopt?
Blogs
If you’re trying to choose between fostering and adoption, this guide will help weigh up the options to decide which is right for you.
Back-Up Foster Parents & Family Members: What’s Their Role?
Blogs
Fostering is a family effort, whether you’re single or in a couple, and having a strong support network is essential. At Orange Grove, we encourage foster families to nominate back-up carers during assessment to provide vital support. But what do back-up foster parents do, and why are they so important? Read on to learn how they can make fostering more fulfilling for both you and the child in your care.
Sibling Jealousy When a New Child Moves Into the Home
Blogs
Discover the causes of sibling jealousy and learn how to ensure every child in your home feels cherished, valued, and loved. Support your children through changes in family dynamics, reassuring them that your love remains unchanged, even with the addition of a new sibling.
The Impact of Sibling Separation
Blogs
Many children in care have siblings. These connections provide stability, comfort and security when children move into care. But what happens when siblings are separated? In this article, we look at the effects of separating siblings in foster care.
Foster Care at Christmas: Make a Child Feel Special
Blogs
As the festive season approaches, our foster carers share their tips on how to make a foster child feel special and part of the family at Christmas.
Signs It’s Time to Transfer Fostering Agency
Blogs
Fostering is rewarding but comes with its challenges. The right agency will support you with guidance from a dedicated team. No matter your experience, it’s worth reflecting on your journey to see if another agency could better meet your needs. Here are some signs it may be time to consider switching.
Qualities Which Make a Great Foster Parent
Blogs
Let’s reflect upon some of the amazing personality traits which make a great foster parent.
5 benefits of fostering while working
Blogs
Let’s explore 5 reasons why working alongside fostering might be the right choice for you and your fostering family.
What Disqualifies You from Being a Foster Parent?
Blogs
You may still foster with a criminal conviction, but serious offences like violent, sexual crimes or those against children will disqualify you.
Supporting Foster Children at School
Blogs
Children in care often face extra challenges returning to school due to past upheaval and instability in their lives. Foster parent, Caroline, shares her best advice.
How to Prepare for Your First Foster Child
Blogs
Read some advice from our foster carers on how to prepare for the arrival of your first foster child.
Which type of fostering is best for my family?
Blogs
While we encourage foster parents to be open to all kinds of fostering, it’s natural that certain types will appeal to you more than others.
Yorkshire Rated Ofsted Outstanding
Blogs
Our Yorkshire fostering team have received their third ‘Outstanding’ rating following an official inspection from Ofsted earlier this year.
Caring For Your Mental Health as a Foster Parent
Blogs
Fostering is rewarding, but it comes with unique challenges that require prioritising your mental health. So, here is a guide to taking care of your mental health as a foster parent.
Can you take a foster child on holiday?
Blogs
In our latest blog, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions we’re asked about taking a foster child on holiday.
Can I Foster While Renting?
Blogs
We’ve put together some information about mortgages for foster carers if you are a renter wanting to buy your first property.
A Simple Guide to Fostering Finances
Blogs
Discover how fostering allowances work, plus tax, benefits, pensions, and more.
4 Reasons to Foster a Child in 2024
Blogs
Discover compelling reasons to foster a child in our latest blog. Learn how you can make a meaningful impact on a child’s life.
Supporting Your Foster Child at Christmas
Blogs
We look at ways to support the child in your care at Christmas, so you can all enjoy the magic of the season together.
How to Manage your Money While Fostering
Blogs
Whether you’re already a foster parent or are considering becoming one, being in control of your finances will help you make the most out of fostering. You’ll also be able to plan for the future while giving the child in your care new experiences and opportunities.
Activities to Help Children Manage Anger
Blogs
Discover six therapeutic activities you can use to help the child in your care express their feelings of anger while developing their emotional regulation skills too.
Talking to Children About War & Conflict
Blogs
Learn about “remote exposure” and how war can indirectly affect young people in care. Plus, how to talk to children about war and conflict.
Bedroom Ideas for Foster Parents
Blogs
As a new foster parent, you might wonder how to make the bedroom good enough. Use the ideas listed below to ensure your first foster child enjoys their new room.
Why Matching is So Important in Fostering
Blogs
Why does the matching process matter so much in foster care? There are numerous compelling reasons, and we’re here to share them with you. Keep reading to find out.
Preparing for Exams with a Foster Child
Blogs
If a young person in your care is taking exams this year, then here are some practical ways that you can support them.
10 Childrens TV Shows, Films and Books with LGBTQ Characters
Blogs
Creating a space where children and teenagers feel safe to explore their sexuality and gender identity is vital for their long-term mental wellbeing.
6 Activities to Help Your Children Prepare for Fostering
Blogs
Consider these activities to engage your biological children while preparing to bring a foster child into your household.
Activities to Build Self-Esteem in Teenagers
Blogs
We look at some flexible ideas for things you can encourage teens to do, or do with them as a foster family, to help them develop positive self-esteem
How to Increase Your Support Network as a Single Foster Parent
Blogs
If you are single but still want to make a life-changing difference to a young person, then a career in fostering may be the perfect role for you.
How to Foster a Child When You’re Single
Blogs
We look at how you as a single person can become a foster parent, and what to expect from the process around it.
10 Amazing Reasons to Foster an Autistic Child
Blogs
Fostering an autistic child can be a truly life-changing experience, for both the child and the foster family
Preparing for Mother’s Day with a Foster Child
Blogs
As a foster parent, you may be wondering the best way to navigate Mother’s Day or Father’s Day -especially if it’s your first year with a child or young person in your care.
Money-saving tips for foster parents
Blogs
Check out our money-saving tips that will help you save where you can and make your money go further.
Internet Safety for Children
Blogs
The internet is a great tool but it does need your help to make it a safe place for children and young people.
7 Lessons Your Children Could Learn Through Fostering
Blogs
Check out these fantastic life lessons that your children could learn through your decision to become a foster family.
The New Year’s Resolution That Will Change a Child’s Life
Blogs
Before you choose a New Year’s Resolution like finding a new hobby or improving your health, why not consider making a New Year’s Resolution that will help others and change lives?
9 Tips for Your First Christmas with a Foster Child
Blogs
As a foster parent, it’s up to you to make this winter celebration magical for the children in your care. Here are nine tips for your first Christmas with a foster child.
5 Ways Christmas Might Be Different for Fostered Children
Blogs
Christmas is coming up and you want to get it right with your foster child, you should first understand these five ways Christmas might be different for them.
John Lewis Christmas Ad has the perfect message
Blogs
Forget talking animals and dancing snowmen – this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert is about as real as it gets. Raising awareness for the hundreds of thousands of children in care in the UK.
6 Ways Foster Parents Can Connect with their Child
Blogs
Wondering how to connect with a child in your foster family? Here are six tips for building the connection that is so essential in foster families.
10 Reasons Why You Should Foster a Child
Blogs
If you’re considering fostering, there are many reasons you should. If you need any more convincing, take a look at these ten reasons why you should foster a child.
How to choose the right foster care agency for you?
Blogs
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, then picking the right fostering agency is important. But how do you choose a fostering agency that is right for you?
7 Benefits of Keeping Siblings Together in Foster Care
Blogs
If you’re on the fence about whether to foster single children or siblings, find out why keeping siblings together is so important and why it’s so rewarding.
Top 10 Questions to Ask When Caring for a New Foster Child
Blogs
There are loads you’ll have when thinking about fostering, we have popped together the top ten questions that you should ask when caring for a new foster child.
5 Ways To Bond With Your First Foster Child
Blogs
Welcoming your first foster child into the home is extremely exciting but also potentially very nerve-wracking.
Fostering and Birth Children – FAQs and Advice
Blogs
Fostering while you have birth children might concern you. Hopefully, the answers to these frequently asked questions will put your mind at ease.
How to Tell Your Spouse You Want to Foster
Blogs
Fostering is a caring and wonderful pursuit. You need both spouses on board, though, so here’s how to tell your spouse you want to foster.
Ayeisha McFerran foster story – Be inspired to care
Blogs
Olympic Hockey star Ayeisha McFerran opens up about her childhood in foster care and hopes that the support she has received throughout her life inspires others to get into fostering.
Five Fostering Myths Debunked
Blogs
We’re on a myth-busting mission to dispel some of the commonly held myths surrounding fostering in a bid to encourage more people to consider fostering.
Tips to Make Your Foster Child’s Birthday Special
Blogs
Having a foster child is a fantastic experience. So, how do you make your foster child’s birthday special? Read on for some tips.
Fostering with pets
Blogs
As part of National Pet Month 2022, a Yorkshire based foster child has spoken out about the benefits their furry friend brings to their life.
Can I Get a Mortgage if I’m a Foster Carer?
Blogs
Many foster carers wonder whether they can use their foster income for a mortgage. Foster carers should have no problem getting on the property ladder.
Fostering When You Have a Child – Why You Should Consider it!
Blogs
Fostering when you have a child of your own living at home can be an enriching and rewarding experience that your whole family benefits from.
Celebrating LGBTQ+ Fostering at Brighton Pride
Blogs
Our Southern Counties team attended Brighton Pride to encourage others within the LGBTQ+ community to consider fostering.
North West Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted
Blogs
Our North West office is celebrating after receiving a second consecutive ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report since 2015.
Southern Counties Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted
Blogs
We’re proud to announce that our Southern Counties team have been rated as ‘Outstanding’ following an official inspection from Ofsted.
How To Encourage Learning Over Christmas
Blogs
Christmas can provide many opportunities for our children and young people to practice the skills they have been learning at school.
How You Can Help Your Child Deal with Frustration and Anger
Blogs
Many of the children and young people coming into care suffer from severe emotional delays, often due to their past experience of neglect and abuse.
Southern Counties Charity Abseil
Blogs
A team of daredevil staff and young people from our Southern Counties team took part in a charity abseil recently at Blackland Farm in East Grinstead.
Summer Kitchen Project Launch
Blogs
We’re encouraging children to grow and cook with their own fruit and vegetables with our Summer Kitchen Project.
National Siblings Day 2018
Blogs
Today, we are proudly supporting National Siblings Day – a day to mark and honour the lifelong bonds between brothers and sisters.
What to do the first day with a new foster child
Blogs
Our foster carers share their thoughts on the most important things you should do on the first day with a foster child to help them settle.
How to Support Your Own Children When Fostering
Blogs
Our foster carers share some invaluable advice on how to support your own children when you’re new to fostering.
Foster Care Fortnight: Foster Care Transforms Lives
Blogs
Being a foster carer is a career like no other and makes such a difference to the lives of many children.
What is fostering like for the sons and daughters of foster carers?
Blogs
We asked our sons and daughters what fostering is like for them – discover their poems and drawings about fostering.
How important is it for foster children to stay in one place?
Blogs
It’s hugely important that children in care experience a stable family home environment that remains consistent in their often turbulent early lives.
Understanding the differences between long-term vs short-term fostering: which type of fostering is right for my family?
Blogs
Let’s explore the differences between long-term and short-term foster care and things to consider when deciding which style of fostering will be a good fit for you and your family.