The A & F Podcast

11/08/2024

We know that paying for childcare is a concern for many . However, may be eligible for funded early education and childcare, providing they meet certain criteria.

Make sure you check to see if you meet the the parental eligibility criteria and apply before the start of the autumn term. ❗

You can find more information on our website: https://loom.ly/4pF4h4E

29/07/2024

Totally. We know that those who share often do so at a cost. ❤️

23/07/2024

Safeguarding Adoptive Families and Advocating for Meaningful Change

19/07/2024

It was a delight to speak to Sarah Thomas from the The Fostering Network last night. Released on Saturday!

17/07/2024

Family Routes is a brand-new, ground-breaking study about the lives of teenagers and young adults and their adoptive and special guardianship families. The research aims to give a voice to these families through interviews and questionnaires about family life, including things that are going well or things families might be struggling with. Questions ask about families, important relationships, school/college, wellbeing, and any support needs.

Adoptive parents, special guardians and young people aged 12-25 who left foster or residential care in England can take part.

Visit: https://familyroutes.ipsos.com, or
Register by emailing [email protected] (please include a phone number) or ring the study team on 08081759341.
Young people aged 12-17 years will need parent/carer consent to take part.

The study is funded by the Department for Education and is being run by Ecorys UK, in partnership with Professor Julie Selwyn at the Rees Centre (University of Oxford) and Ipsos. Previous similar studies have led to the government introducing new support for families like the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund and extra support in schools. So, taking part really does matter, as families views and experience can make a difference.

If you have any questions, please email the study team by emailing [email protected] or ring the study team on 08081759341.

17/07/2024

We're looking to build as many ways as possible to help and support parents, carers and families of children with complex needs and often complex behaviour.
Join our Lumin&Us Parent Support FB Group here

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1081610336472456

09/07/2024

Episode 14- Be curious!

In this months episode we talk about the importance of being curious with those around us. Curiosity helps us develop deeper understanding, build stronger connections, and respond to the needs of those around us with empathy and insight.

Connect with us -
Instagram- BMBUltd
Facebook – Better Me Better Us
Twitter – BMBUltd
Email – [email protected]


👂 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-adoption-and-fostering-podcast/id1164600703?i=1000661616753

09/07/2024

09/07/2024

We're on a train!

08/07/2024

Monday Night Live

07/07/2024

We're live from Podcast Towers on Monday night. Well, we will have to work it which buttons to press!

06/07/2024

03/07/2024

Can you help? 🙏

The is conducting some research to improve outcomes for children in kinship care and adoptive families.

Many children in kinship care have experienced some form of neglect or abuse prior to entering kinship care, and their families are likely to need support to help them. The researchers want to know what support your family has needed. 💛

They are looking for kinship carers who have a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) and who are caring for a child who has had either a child protection plan, a child in need plan, voluntary accommodation or at some point, has been taken into care.

If this is you, they would love to hear from you.

Click here to find out more: https://loom.ly/T5WOhx8

28/06/2024

This was a cracking episode to record and we all really liked 'Lost Boys and Fairies' feeling like a really grown up and mature view on the challenges of becoming a parent through adoption.

‎Show The Adoption and Fostering Podcast, Ep Episode 190 - Dónal Traynor, Pride, Manifestos and 'Lost Boys and Fairies' - 21 Jun 2024

26/06/2024

This survey seeks to gather information about adopters' mental health and support needs, to accompany the findings of our previous engagement workshops.

13/06/2024

I wrote a blog about relationships and caring for complicated children.

Side Eye and an Elbow to the Ribs - Relationships and Tricky kids

Follow the link, take a read

http://www.alcoates.co.uk/2024/06/side-eye-and-elbow-to-ribs.html

12/06/2024

Happy birthday to our friend and campaign ambassador Jay Kontzle!

This week, the actor and producer has shared why he is encouraging everyone to support the campaign during the run-up to the election. 💛

"Right now, there are 141,000 children in England and Wales whose parents aren’t able to care for them, who are being raised by relatives or family friends, like grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings. This is called kinship care.

“I was one of those children. My mum passed away when I was four, and my grandparents stepped up to raise me. As tough a start to life as that was, my grandparents sacrificed everything for me and gave me a wonderful, loving home to grow up in.

“There are more than twice the number of children growing up in kinship care than there are in foster care. But, unlike foster carers, most kinship families receive little or no support. Many families are at breaking point, and thousands of children are at risk of entering the care system, because of a lack of support for kinship carers to help them meet the needs of the children they’ve taken in.

“This General Election is a huge opportunity for us to demand that politicians fix a system that is unfair and letting vulnerable children down.

“Kinship’s campaign is calling on MP candidates to commit to supporting kinship families:. You can help, by adding your name to the campaign: https://secure.kinship.org.uk/page/150198/petition/1 THANK YOU."

Please share this to help give vulnerable children the best possible start in life. 💛

11/06/2024

💫 NEW EPISODE OUT NOW 💫

Episode 13- Big events for little people

Happy Pride Month 🌈

In this 13th episode we talk about big events for little people. As usual we go up, down and all around with the topic covering events such as exams, endings (including the end of the school term), explaining big stories and how within that, us big people can help ourselves to help our young people.

Connect with us -
Instagram- BMBUltd
Facebook – Better Me Better Us
Twitter – BMBUltd
Email – [email protected]

04/06/2024

📢 NEW BLOG ALERT!!

If you find yourself searching for alternative approaches to parenting, welcome to our blog where we delve into the concept of low demand parenting.

It's about recognising the unique needs of neurodivergent children and tailoring your approach to meet those needs with compassion and empathy for yourself and your child.

https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/low-demand-parenting-neurodivergent-success/

04/06/2024

As it's Pride month we've set each other some home work and are going to watch the Series: Lost Boys and Fairies. We shall report back in an upcoming podcast episode!

Of course thoughts and comments welcomed to inform the discussion!

Q***r performance artist Gabriel and his partner Andy long to adopt a child.

07/05/2024

We're honoured to be joined by Al Coates - Adoption: Fostering: Children: Social Work for our next FREE networking for professionals online meeting. 2nd July 12-2
Find out more and reserve your place here: https://bit.ly/3WsI19f

02/05/2024

Fantastic to speak and record with Laura Machin from Adopters Advocacy at Lancaster uni tonight.
Very inspiring.

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02/05/2024

This is an interesting opportunity to share experiences for adopters and be a part of a change.

26/04/2024

Looks like an interesting study.
Adopt North East ACE Adoption Central EnglandAdoption Counts ARC Adoption North East You Can Adopt Adoption Tees ValleyAdoption West

https://tinyurl.com/33ef46vh

25/04/2024

Podcast fun in central London. Al Coates - Adoption: Fostering: Children: Social Work Scott Casson-Rennie

25/04/2024

Ooh… look who we have here!

25/04/2024

Who do we have here?!