Fostering love through relationships

In this blog post for Foster Carer Fortnight 2024, Seany, a lived experienced Consultant wanted to share some thoughts, from her experience of foster care, on navigating the unknown, getting to know and be cared for by new people, and how new loving relationships can be built.

When data tells us the what but not the why

CELCIS’s Data Lead, Micky Anderson, takes a look at the latest social work statistics in Scotland for clues about what is happening in the support for children in need of care and protection and their families.

“It’s about…believing our own words”: Bringing together the voices of care experienced people

Rebekah Pierre is a care experienced writer, author, social worker, and editor of a new anthology, ‘Free Loaves on Fridays: The Care System As Told By People Who Actually Get It’, which brings together stories, essays, poems and letters by 100 care experienced children and adults. In this conversation with CELCIS, she discusses the process of developing this anthology and how she hopes the book will help shift the narrative of care experience.

Why the new John Lewis advert matters

It's long been understood now that there is a pressing need to ‘reframe’ care, something being taken forward with the support of the Each and Every Child initiative which is underpinned by research and practice. It’s fitting then that we have a new Christmas messenger – John Lewis and their annual Christmas advert.

Knowing about continuing care allows for early conversations

Hazel Rogers is new to fostering and here she discusses her journey to find out more about continuing care to give her the confidence to support the young person in her care.

The life of a foster carer

Anne-Marie Coyle has been a foster carer for over 15 years with the Kibble Intensive Fostering Service, which provides fostering for children and young people aged five and above with complex needs. Here she describes what it takes to provide good quality care, the rewards, and the challenges.

‘I am a foster carer’ - why do foster carers find it hard to say?

Why do I hesitate when people ask what I do to say I am a foster carer? What makes me wait and judge the person before saying I am a foster carer, yet it is a role I have done for nearly twenty years alongside other professions. I hesitate because of judgement and stigma of the children I care for. I hesitate to protect the children and young people who are with me now, to protect those who came before, from that stigma and judgement.

The link between poverty, stigma, and the care ‘system’

Tiegan Boyens uses her experiences, views and knowledge to help improve the lives of children and young people, tackle social justice issues, and raise awareness of human rights. In this blog post, Tiegan, who is aged 19, adopted and lives in England, discusses why a greater understanding of poverty is needed to help make real change.

Walking in Fred’s shoes

Alison Cowper, Service Manager with the Independent Care and Review Team (Children and Families) at Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership talks about how ‘what does this mean for Fred?’ influenced their work with CELCIS when process mapping their current system.

In supporting the rights of care experienced children and their brothers and sisters, we must look to creative, tailored solutions

Since founding STAR, and in my time as a foster carer, I’ve seen and heard first-hand the impact of one of the most heart-breaking problems of the care system: children being separated from their brothers and sisters, at times in homes that are far away from each other, or being prevented from having a relationship at all.