Welcome to the July edition of our local council fostering newsletter!
This month, we’re excited to launch a special campaign exploring the many different paths you can take within foster care. Whether it’s short-term, long-term, emergency, or specialist fostering, each journey plays a vital role—and every carer makes the same powerful, positive impact on a child’s life.
By shining a spotlight on different types of foster care and demonstrating that there is no one-size-fits all approach, we aim to raise awareness, celebrate diversity in fostering, and inspire more people to discover the path that’s right for them. In our newsletter this month, we’re providing a snapshot of some of the different types of foster care however tune into our social channels as well to find out more as we shine a light on the unique experiences and rewards each type of foster care provides.
So, no matter where you are on your fostering journey, we hope you’ll enjoy reading more below. Don’t forget, we’re here for you whenever you feel ready to take the next step, or if you just want some of your questions answered.
Meet Karen: A Foster Carer Making a Lasting Difference
We’re delighted to share Karen’s fostering story with you. She is a dedicated long-term foster carer with Swindon Borough Council, whose journey in fostering has been both inspiring and impactful. With a special focus on supporting teenagers, Karen brings warmth, wisdom, and a deep sense of purpose to her role.
Karen’s fostering journey began with a desire to make a difference—and she’s done just that. Over the years, she has opened her home and heart to young people, offering them not just a place to stay, but a sense of security and belonging. In a heart-warming comment she explains, “I really do feel that it is an absolute privilege to be a foster carer- to see the change that you’ve made in a child’s life, there is no feeling like it.”
Her approach goes beyond day-to-day care. Karen plays an advisory role in the lives of the young people she fosters, helping them navigate challenges and build confidence. She’s passionate about understanding the ‘why’ behind behaviours, using her experience to look deeper and respond with empathy and insight.
Home from Home: Providing Respite, Support, and Smiles for Swindon Families
Caring for a child or young person with additional needs is a rewarding but often demanding role. For many families in Swindon, having a trusted helping hand can make all the difference. That’s where Swindon Borough Council’s Home from Home scheme comes in. It’s a dedicated respite service that offers short breaks to children and young people with disabilities by matching them with specially trained carers in a home environment.
The Home from Home scheme provides regular, planned short stays for children and young people with additional needs. These stays take place in the homes of approved foster carers, giving families a much-needed break while ensuring their child receives high quality care in a warm, family-based setting. It’s more than just a break, it’s a chance for children to build new relationships, enjoy new experiences, and gain independence in a safe and supportive environment.
Jump Into Foster Care This July
Understanding Short-Term and Long- Term Foster Care
Foster care comes in many forms, each designed to meet the unique needs of children and the families who care for them.
Short-term foster care provides a safe and supportive home for children on a temporary basis—often while decisions are being made about their long-term future. In contrast, long-term foster care offers children a more stable, consistent environment when returning home or adoption isn’t possible, allowing them to build lasting relationships and a sense of belonging.
Both types of care are vital—and both offer the chance to make a meaningful difference in a child’s life.
No Spare Room? You Could Still Foster A Baby.
Fostering Babies: Providing Love from the Very Start
Fostering babies is a unique and deeply rewarding experience that offers vulnerable infants the love, care, and stability they need during the earliest and most critical stages of life. Foster carers who look after babies play a vital role in nurturing their development, responding to their needs with patience and affection, and creating a safe, soothing environment. It’s not just about feeding and changing nappies—it’s about forming secure attachments that lay the foundation for healthy emotional and physical growth.
Babies can often sleep in a cot, sharing a room with you which means you could offer this type of foster care even if you don’t have a spare room. You will need to be a non-smoker and be able to support a baby full time.
For many carers, they feel great joy and fulfilment from knowing they are giving a baby the best possible start in life, even if only for a short time.
Parent and Child Fostering: Supporting Two Lives at Once
Did you know some foster carers support not just children—but young parents and their babies?
Parent and child fostering is a specialist type of care where a foster carer provides support not just to a child, but to their parent as well—often a young or vulnerable parent who needs guidance in caring for their baby. The aim is to help the parent develop the skills and confidence needed to provide a safe and nurturing environment for their child.
Foster carers play a vital mentoring role, offering practical advice, emotional support, and a stable home while professionals assess the parent’s ability to care independently. It’s a unique and rewarding role that helps keep families together and gives both parent and child the best chance at a positive future.
Could you support this type of fostering and be the steady hand these families need?
Tune in to our latest podcast…
We are excited to share our latest podcast episode with you. In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Linda shares her personal journey and passion for fostering teenagers. With honesty and warmth, she talks about the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the deep rewards of supporting young people through such a pivotal stage in their lives.
Linda is a dedicated foster carer who has supported over 30 children and young people in Gloucestershire during her time as a valued foster carer with Gloucestershire County Council and would encourage anyone thinking about becoming a foster carer to ‘just do it-give fostering a try’. She explains that ‘you have the power to make a real difference in a young person’s life, and that feeling is so important’.
Whether you’re already a foster carer or just curious about what it’s like to foster teens, Linda’s story offers valuable insight and encouragement.
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