Voices of Fostering
National Fostering Group
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.
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Top 10 Voices of Fostering Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Voices of Fostering episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Voices of Fostering for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Voices of Fostering episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Andrew - I work and foster!
Voices of Fostering
06/21/24 • 26 min
In some cases, you can still foster while working full-time, as is the case for Andrew, a single carer who continues to work. In this episode of the Voices of Fostering Podcast, Andrew shares his experience as a foster carer over the past year. He discusses how he has managed to balance his job with fostering and talks about the children he has cared for.
If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.
If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email [email protected]
You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube
Zak - We provide the best training for our foster carers
Voices of Fostering
08/06/24 • 15 min
In this episode, we are thrilled to introduce Zak, our Training Team Leader. Zak works with our current foster carers to provide them with top-notch training and equip them with essential skills. Tune in to hear about our redesigned Skills to Foster Training, therapeutic parenting courses, and how we use VR to elevate our training to the next level.
If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.
If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email [email protected]
You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube
Jayne and Ken - We have fostered for 19 years!
Voices of Fostering
09/10/24 • 26 min
Jayne and Ken have been dedicated foster carers for 19 years, and their journey is nothing short of remarkable. In one of our most heartfelt episodes yet, they share stories of children once labelled by local authorities as "children from hell," some facing unimaginable medical challenges. Despite the odds, Jayne and Ken's unwavering support helped these children thrive, and today, many of them are adults raising families of their own.
If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.
If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email [email protected]
You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube
May - The importance of mindfulness
Voices of Fostering
10/01/24 • 26 min
For the past 15 years, May has been a dedicated foster carer with NFA Scotland, fulfilling a lifelong dream. She and her husband waited until their daughter turned 16 before taking the step into fostering, ensuring it was the right time for their family. The journey has been a rollercoaster, but one they wouldn’t trade for anything. May is a strong advocate for the practice of mindfulness among foster carers, emphasising its vital role in managing the unique challenges they face. In this episode, we explore the positive impact of mindfulness in fostering and how it has helped May and others.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:22 May's Journey into Fostering
03:01 First Experiences as a Foster Carer
06:27 Challenges and Rewards of Fostering
10:45 Mindfulness and Its Impact
21:42 Advice for Aspiring Foster Carers
25:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.
If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email [email protected]
You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube
Amalia - We specialise in parent and child foster care
Voices of Fostering
10/15/24 • 29 min
In this episode of our Voices of Fostering podcast, we are joined by Amalia, one of our amazing foster carers. She has been fostering for 10 years alongside her husband. Amalia shares her unique journey, from working in high-end casinos and running a pub to becoming a foster carer after seeing a simple advert. She reflects on the joys and challenges of fostering, the emotional ups and downs, and what she has learned along the way.
If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.
If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email [email protected]
You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube
Rachel and David - Balancing Careers and Fostering
Voices of Fostering
10/22/24 • 29 min
Rachel and David share their journey of fostering over the past five years. From their love for children to the unexpected moments that shaped their path, Rachel and David talk candidly about their experiences, including the joys and challenges of balancing birth children with fostering.
If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.
If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email [email protected]
You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube
Destiny: I was in foster care
Voices of Fostering
02/16/23 • 43 min
Destiny is a lively and articulate young woman who spent her childhood in various foster homes before finding her forever home with her current foster family. She speaks candidly about her anger growing up and the many traumatic experiences she faced. Describing herself as a “very troubled child”, Destiny found out at age four that the person she was living with was not her real mum. She found meeting her biological mum confusing and traumatic and expressed her feelings through angry outbursts. Destiny explains that “you need to find an outlet” and the foster home provided a safe environment to let out her emotions. Age 17, she hit rock bottom but then something changed. Destiny learned a different way to express her feelings. Slowly she came to a new understanding about her life and her experiences. Now, Destiny speaks passionately about learning to accept the past and live in the present. She shares what’s important to her in life, her hopes and her dreams. She believes even small acts of self-care (drinking tea’s a biggie) help to shape a brighter future. And, for her, family comes above everything – the foster parents who allowed her to grow, to become Destiny.
If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.
If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email [email protected]
You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube
Sarah Jane: I recruit foster carers
Voices of Fostering
02/16/23 • 44 min
Sarah Jane wears two different hats when it comes to fostering and adoption. She’s a foster carer recruitment officer for National Fostering Group and an adoptive mum to her 11-year-old son. At work, it’s her job to meet would-be foster carers and tell them what fostering’s all about, alongside looking after the agency’s team of foster carers. She helps people who want to foster get a realistic understanding of what’s involved and prepare to apply. Sarah Jane has personal experience of the challenges of bringing a child into your home after adopting her son eight years ago. Candidly, she describes feeling like she’d “kidnapped” him from his family when he first arrived and how many things she wishes she’d done differently. Looking after a child who’s experienced trauma can be challenging and she’s learned what a difference Therapeutic Parenting makes – helping a child understand their emotions, responding with acceptance, compassion and empathy. Both at home and at work, she’s witnessed the benefits of allowing children to feel what they feel without trying to fix it. It’s not an easy journey but helping a child feel they belong somewhere is the most rewarding thing ever – supporting them to become the best they can be.
If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.
If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email [email protected]
You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube
Carol: I foster but my family foster with me too.
Voices of Fostering
05/19/23 • 28 min
Coming up in episode 4. We meet Carol and her daughter Emma and hear their incredible story of how being a fostering family has shaped their lives, from her adopting her foster child Ryan to how they all come together to support each other in difficult times. Carol has a wealth of experience and this is an incredible episode to listen to.
If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.
If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email [email protected]
You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube
Linda: A Therapeutic Life Story worker
Voices of Fostering
05/26/23 • 21 min
Coming up on Episode 5 we explore how our past experience impact our lives, and how children in foster care benefit from Therapeutic Life Story work, processing their trauma with the help of a professional like our guest, Linda.
If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.
If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email [email protected]
You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube
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FAQ
How many episodes does Voices of Fostering have?
Voices of Fostering currently has 44 episodes available.
What topics does Voices of Fostering cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, Foster Care, Family and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on Voices of Fostering?
The episode title 'Leonie: My parents are foster carers' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Voices of Fostering?
The average episode length on Voices of Fostering is 25 minutes.
How often are episodes of Voices of Fostering released?
Episodes of Voices of Fostering are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Voices of Fostering?
The first episode of Voices of Fostering was released on Feb 16, 2023.
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