Voices of Fostering
Voices of Fostering brought to you by National Fostering Group.
Everyone’s life takes a different path. As children and young people decisions can be made for us that shape our lives forever – whether for good or bad. As adults, we have the opportunity to make our own choices. And what we choose can have a positive impact on us and the world around us. Particularly if one of those choices is fostering. When you listen to the stories of children and young people whose lives have been touched by foster carers, you start to see the impact that fostering can have. When you decide to foster, it’s hard to imagine just how big a difference you could make. Not just to the young people you foster, but rippling out into countless other lives. Your choice to foster could transform the life chances of some of the most vulnerable people in society. In this podcast, you’ll hear young people who were fostered, birth children and foster carers talking openly and candidly about their experiences. You’ll get to understand why fostering can be simultaneously the most rewarding and the most challenging thing you’ll ever do and why embarking on this extraordinary journey changes people forever. If you’ve ever been curious about what it really means to foster, what difference it really makes, you’ll find the answers here.
Episodes
89 episodes
Scott - Solo, Ready, and Open to Give Back
What happens when your fostering journey takes an unexpected turn?In this episode of Voices of Fostering, Helen sits down with Scott — a foster carer with a story of an unexpected journey to tell.Scott and his then...
Tim - A CEO's View on Foster Care
In this episode of Voices of Fostering, experienced foster carers Travis and Marisol sit down with Tim Barclay, CEO of National Fostering Group, for an honest conversation about the realities of foster care—from both sides.Discover how c...
Carole and John - Finding Each Other, Fostering Together
Meet Carol and John, a remarkable foster care couple who've dedicated 15 years to transforming young lives—and at 75, they're still going strong.After finding each other through shared dreams of fostering, this dynamic duo has welcomed d...
Callum - Blue Light Careers and Fostering
Meet Callum, a former police officer who made the leap from frontline policing to becoming a Supervised Family Center Manager at Heath Farm. In this episode of Voices of Fostering, he shares how his police experience—from conflict management to...
Casey - The Power of Lived Experience in Foster Care Work
Meet Casey, a Family Support Worker at the National Fostering Group who's walking the walk—not just talking it. From volunteering in Indian orphanages at 19 to adopting two boys and now supporting foster families daily, Casey brings lived exper...
Scott - Patience, Progress, and Second Chances
Meet Scott, a foster carer from Kent who has dedicated 20 years to transforming the lives of children with complex needs. Since 2005, Scott and his wife Haley have fostered 13 children, specializing in long-term placements for neurodiverse youn...
Erin - Becoming an Older Sibling Through Fostering
In this heartwarming episode, we sit down with Erin, who shares her unique perspective on fostering as a sibling. At 20 years old, Erin opens up about what it was like when her mum became a foster carer and how welcoming an 11-year-old foster b...
John - How Fostering Brought Our Family Closer
When John heard a radio advert asking for foster carers on his drive home from work, he never imagined how much it would transform his life. After 40 years as a sheet metal worker and with three grown daughters who'd flown the nest, John and hi...
Victoria - Bridge to Foster & Helping Children Move from Residential Care to Family Homes
In this eye-opening episode of Voices of Fostering, we sit down with Victoria, a Senior Creative Care Solutions Practitioner who leads the Bridge to Foster program at National Fostering Group. With over 20 years of social work experience, Victo...
Mark - The Unexpected Rewards of Fostering
In this heartfelt episode of Voices of Fostering, Mark shares his incredible 13-year journey as a foster carer—from an unexpected spiritual calling to the everyday moments that make it all worthwhile.Mark's story is a powerful reminder t...
Jon - Duke of Edinburgh's Award for Young People in Care
Did you know that 97-99% of young people who do the Duke of Edinburgh's Award access it through school? But what about children in care who may move schools, change placements, or simply don't feel it's for them in a traditional setting?...
Louise - The Power of Lived Experience in Fostering
What happens when someone who grew up in foster care decides to become a foster parent themselves? In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Louise, a Carer Recruitment Officer at National Fostering Group who knows firsthand the life-changing...
Susan - The Rewards of Respite Fostering
Join us for our latest episode of "Voices of Fostering" as we catch up with Susan, a dedicated foster carer with 18 years of experience. In this candid conversation, Susan shares her journey into fostering, the joys and challenges of short-term...
Mandy - Beyond 18: How Her Home Became a Lifelong Haven
In this episode of "Voices of Fostering," Helen sits down with Mandy to explore her remarkable journey as a foster carer. Mandy shares how she found her calling later in life, the challenges and joys of fostering as a single carer, and the deep...
Marisol - Finding Family Through Fostering: A Story of Music, Growth, and Love
Join us for a heartfelt episode of "Voices of Fostering" as Helen sits down with Marisol, a dedicated foster mum, to discuss the transformative power of music, the challenges and joys of fostering, and the journey of building a family through l...
Natalie - Making a Difference: The Realities and Rewards of Fostering Teenagers
Join us for a heartfelt episode of "Voices of Fostering" as we sit down with Natalie, a foster carer with over a decade of experience. Natalie opens up about the unique challenges and profound rewards of fostering, from welcoming sibling groups...
Ann - 20 Years as a Fostering Family
Step into the heart of fostering with this inspiring episode of "Voices of Fostering." Meet Ann, a dedicated foster carer with over 20 years of experience and more than 90 children welcomed into her home. In this candid conversation, Ann shares...
David & Rachael - Opening Hearts and Homes, an Inspiring Foster Family Journey
In this episode of "Voices of Fostering," we welcome back David and Rachael, a remarkable couple who have opened their hearts and home to eight children—three birth children and five foster children. Join us as they share their journey into fos...
Serwari - Fostering, Resilience, and Community
Join us for a heartfelt episode of "Voices of Fostering" as we welcome back Serwari, a dedicated foster carer with over a decade of experience. In this candid conversation, Serwari shares her journey through the joys and challenges of fostering...
Robert - From Fostering to Storytelling
Discover the creative journey of Robert and his husband David—foster carers, children’s book authors, and illustrators. In this episode of Voices of Fostering, Helen chats with Robert about how their experiences inspired them to write and illus...
Robert - Building Families Through Fostering
Join us for this heartfelt episode of Voices of Fostering as Helen sits down with Robert, a dedicated foster carer, to discuss his inspiring journey in fostering. Robert shares how he and his husband began their fostering adventure, the challen...
Hazel - Guiding New Foster Carers
Join us for this inspiring episode of Voices of Fostering as Helen sits down with Hazel, a dedicated Carer Recruitment Officer from National Fostering Group. Hazel shares her personal journey from working in travel to finding her calling in fos...
Joanne, Oliver and Max: The life of a fostering family
Welcome to another heartfelt episode of Voices of Fostering! In this episode, host Helen sits down with Joanne and her sons, Max (16) and Oliver (12), to share their inspiring journey as a fostering family.Discover what it’s really like ...
Julie - Empowering Foster Families
Welcome to another episode of Voices of Fostering! In this episode, we are joined by Julie, a dedicated team support worker from National Fostering Group. Julie shares insights into her role, which involves organising events for children and pr...
Derek - 29 Kids and Counting
Join us in this heartwarming episode of Voices of Fostering as we sit down with Derek, a dedicated foster carer who, along with his wife Carol, has been fostering for nearly 20 years. Derek shares their journey, challenges, and the rewarding mo...