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An interesting part of Ascent is how we support matching and the placement of children with our foster parents. One of the questions I’m often asked by prospective or new foster parents is: “How does the matching process really work, and what choices do I have as a foster parent?”

It’s a very valid question. Whether a child is coming into care for the first time or is needing to move from another foster home, there can be urgency and uncertainty—but there is also a need to put a lot of thought and care into making sure the right child is placed in the right home.

Matching is not about perfection (there’s no such thing as a perfect match), but it is about fit—fit for the child, and fit for the foster parent and their household. This is why the child placement process is approached with sensitivity and careful planning.

What Do We Mean by “Matching”?

Matching is the process of identifying a foster family that can best meet a child’s needs. Every child has their own early life experiences, needs, strengths, and challenges they need support in overcoming. Therefore, when a Local Authority approaches Ascent with a child that needs a foster home, we work closely with them and that child’s network (this includes, but is not exhaustive of, the placing officer, the child’s social worker, the child’s educational provision and key people in the child’s life). We think carefully about all these factors and consider which foster families, from their skills and experience to their family dynamics, are best placed to provide a safe and nurturing home.

Whilst it is important to think about the practical elements like the number of bedrooms or where they attend school, it’s also about ensuring we find the right match between foster parent and child, and that a child’s emotional needs, identity, trauma history, attachment styles, and personality are all considered.

This includes considering emotional needs, identity, trauma history, attachment styles, and personality when making foster care placement decisions. In many ways, this part of matching is similar to a foster family assessment, where we look at both the child’s needs and the foster family’s capacity to provide care.

What Information does a foster parent receive?

At Ascent, we work closely with the Local Authority to learn as much about the child as we possibly can so we can ensure the right match for both child and foster parent. Before a child is placed, you will receive a ‘referral’, which should provide a detailed description of the child. This will include:

• Age, gender, and cultural background
• Health needs and routines, hobbies
• Education history and current school provision
• Known behaviours, triggers, and support strategies
• Family time arrangements
• Any risks to consider (for example, running away or self-harm)

We will also ask for other information, such as school reports, chronologies, and care plans, and you will be able to think through with your Supervising Social Worker (SSW) and Therapeutic Consultant about the match.

The Role of Therapeutic Thinking in Matching

Therapeutic fostering requires us to look beyond the presenting behaviours a child may be displaying. As Ascent is a therapeutic fostering agency, we are keen to understand the why behind some behaviours. For example, a child who hoards food isn’t being “naughty”—they may have experienced neglect and are responding from a place of survival.

Therefore, when we’re matching, we’re not just asking: “Can this carer manage this behaviour?” but, “Can this carer offer the relational safety this child needs?” “Do they have the patience and capacity to co-regulate through big emotions?” and “Does their family environment give the child the best chance to heal?” We do not expect foster parents to be therapists but to be curious and use the two hands of therapeutic parenting; one hand, a foster parent is using boundaries, structure and routine and in the other, warmth, nurture and empathy.

What choices do foster parents have?

As a foster parent, you always have a choice. Matching is a conversation, not a one-way decision. You are never forced to accept caring for a child or young person. Saying yes or no is not about being “good” or “bad” at fostering—it’s about being honest about what’s possible for you and your household. Therefore, part of the matching process is an open conversation with your Supervising Social Worker (SSW) about the following elements:

• Capacity: Do you have the physical space, time, and energy right now? How would you balance the needs of the child alongside your existing lifestyle and commitments?
• Family dynamics: How might this child’s needs impact your own children, other foster children you are caring for or other household members?
• Skills and experience: Do you feel equipped to meet the child’s needs? What previous experience could you draw upon, or transferable skills, which would enable you to care for the child?
• Support networks: What support do you need? Who in your network can offer backup support or overnight stays? What training, resources or professional support from your SSW or Therapeutic Consultant would you benefit from?

Sometimes, foster parents worry about saying no, but from my perspective, I value honesty, and I want every foster family to feel confident when they agree to care for a child. This does not mean that they won’t feel challenged or stretched at times, but it is within a foster parent’s capacity with the wrap-around support Ascent provide.

Final Thoughts

Matching is at the heart of fostering. It’s not always easy, and sometimes a child being placed in a foster family can happen quickly, but there is always thought, care, and therapeutic understanding behind the process.

As a foster parent, your role is not just to provide a bed—it’s to provide stability, nurture, and hope. And your choices matter. By working together—social workers, foster parents, and local authorities—we can create matches that give children not just safety, but the chance to begin healing and thriving.

By Sita Alexander, Fostering Director

If you would like to find out more about fostering and the amazing difference you could make in a young persons life. Give usa call on 0203 757 0070 or click HERE to receive a call back. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have on fostering and take you through the process.

As a therapeutic foster carer, one of the most important parts of welcoming a child into their new home is preparing their bedroom. This is because we are helping them create a safe space, and it is likely to be the first place they’ll begin to feel that this house might just be a home, their new home.

I have had both experiences where children have joined my family home with very little, or sometimes with nothing at all, where they have been placed in an emergency. Equally, I have cared for children where there was a planned transition. Irrespective of how they have joined the family, they are often experiencing a wealth of emotions, and they may also feel frightened, excited, uncertain, or even resistant to being here. That’s why their bedroom isn’t just about furniture—it’s about creating a sense of safety, belonging, and dignity.

Here are some things I’ve learned about setting up a bedroom for a foster child in a way that’s both therapeutic and welcoming:

1. Start with the Basics: A Clean, Calm Space

Before anything else, I make sure the room is clean, uncluttered, and calm. Fresh bedding, dusted surfaces, and a neutral colour scheme create a gentle, soothing environment. Children may be coming from chaotic situations, so keeping their space calm—not overwhelming—is really important.

2. Offer Comfort Through Familiarity

If I have been able to have an introduction with a child beforehand, I will always ask them their favourite colour and what their interests are, so this can help me think about furnishings. This is one of the small touches that is important to consider when deciding what foster children need.

I like to include soft touches such as an extra blanket and a couple of cushions. Sometimes I’ll add a teddy or soft toy on the bed—but I never assume they’ll want it. Some children cling to a comfort object straight away; others reject it. The key is offering, not forcing.

3. Keep it Personal—But Not Prescriptive

I don’t over-decorate the room in my taste, because the space needs to grow with the child as they decorate it themselves. This balance, providing a foundation while allowing choice, is central to therapeutic foster care home preparation.
I’ll often put up a pinboard with a welcome note or card or leave a shelf empty, so they have space to add photos, drawings, or little treasures when they’re ready.

It has also been helpful with some children (dependent on age, emotional well-being, how they’ve joined, etc) to enable them to have some choice and autonomy, such as I may support them to pick a bedspread or we have gone to Ikea together so they can get some personal bits for their room.

4. Think Safety First

Therapeutic fostering means being extra mindful of safety. I avoid anything with sharp edges, fragile ornaments, or overwhelming amounts of clutter. Depending on the child’s age and needs, I might limit things and ensure that there are no breakable lamps or heavy mirrors. You can also buy glass safety film if appropriate.

One of my young people, when she became distressed, would tear up her photographs, but once she had calmed down, she would become very upset that her precious photos had been ruined, so we started to laminate them. It was also important for her that her photos were not in glass frames. Safety helps them feel secure.

5. Small Gestures Go a Long Way

I’ve learned that small, thoughtful touches can mean the world and help a child feel seen and cared for. I always have additional toiletries for the child or young person, which may include shampoo, toothpaste, a hairbrush, and sanitary items, as there have been circumstances where a child has only turned up in their school uniform.

Equally, some children may not feel comfortable to express when they join what they do and do not have, so just having it available to them is helpful until you learn their preferences.

These gestures may seem small, but they’re powerful in making a foster child feel at home.

Ascent also provide each child who joins an Ascent family with a welcome box which has a note and several little gift gestures in it – being held in mind can go a long way for our children.

6. Respect Their Privacy

When children arrive, they often feel like their whole life is on display to strangers. Their room needs to feel private while balancing the need to keep them safe. I make sure they have a door they can close, some drawers or a wardrobe to keep their belongings, and reassurance that this is their space.

I always let children know if and why I may need to enter their room, for example, if they need support tidying it up and the importance of knocking before entering.

7. Be Ready to Adapt

I will always let the child know that the room on day one is never the finished product, and in time, we will help it feel like and become their space. Each child is unique and different, some will want to paint, others will want posters of their favourite shows, or some prefer it plain and simple. One of the children I cared for had experienced multiple foster homes before coming to me, and so he did not want to personalise his room when he first came. It took over a year for him to feel safe and secure, and therefore, being patient and understanding of his inner world was central. Now, when I walk passed his bedroom, I feel so proud because it really feels like his space!

Final Thoughts

Preparing a bedroom for a foster child isn’t about making it Pinterest-perfect. It’s about creating a space that says: “You are safe here. You are welcome here. You belong here.”

Sometimes, that message is felt most strongly not in the furniture or the colour of the walls, but in the small details—the soft blanket folded on the end of the bed, the toothbrush waiting in the bathroom, the knowledge that someone thought about them before they even arrived. That’s what turns a bedroom into a refuge—and a house into a home.

Here is a practical bedroom checklist for foster carers:

Essentials (must-haves):

• Bed, clean mattress, and waterproof protector
• Fresh duvet, pillows, and bedding
• Wardrobe or chest of drawers
• Bedside table or surface
• Reading lamp/light (sturdy and safe)
• Curtains or blinds
• Waste bin

Comfort & Care Items (to help them settle):

• Spare blankets or throws
• A couple of cushions
• A soft toy (optional, but available)
• Basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, hairbrush, sanitary products)
• Nightlight or LED strips can be helpful for some children who may feel anxious, scared at nighttime or who are afraid of the dark
• If they are joining in an emergency, it is helpful to purchase a pack of new underwear and socks

Personalisation & Extras (to give choice):

• Pinboard, magnetic board, or wall-safe sticky hooks for posters/photos
• Journal, colouring book, or notebook
• Pens, pencils, crayons, depending on age
• Small clock or alarm (some children like the routine it provides)
• A basket or box they can use as a “special things” drawer

Optional Therapeutic Touches:

• Weighted blanket (if recommended for sensory needs)
• Fidget toys or stress balls
• Calm-down jar or sensory bottle
• A shelf or box labelled “safe space” for them to keep private items

By an Ascent Foster Parent

If you would like to find out more about fostering and the amazing difference you could make in a young persons life. Give usa call on 0203 757 0070 or click HERE to receive a call back. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have on fostering and take you through the process.

Children who have experienced trauma often find it difficult to articulate or name their feelings and traditional therapy can sometimes feel too overwhelming.

Healing doesn’t always begin with words.

Sometimes, it begins with a nudge from a therapy dog, the steady grooming of a pony, the stroking of a cat or a rabbit curled quietly in a child’s lap.

That’s the gentle, evidence-based power of animal-assisted therapy (AAT).

🧠 Why It Works: The Science of Connection

Animals as Therapy is supported by compelling neuroscience:

• Oxytocin (“the bonding hormone”) is released through nurturing touch, helping a child feel safe and soothed

• Cortisol, the stress hormone, decreases with animal interaction—reducing anxiety and emotional flooding

• Co-regulation occurs when a child subconsciously mirrors the calm breathing and presence of a therapy animal, helping them regulate their own emotions

“Animal-assisted therapy provides a safe space for children to explore trust, develop empathy, and reconnect to their senses—all without having to say a word.”
— Dr. Sam Carr, University of Bath

🧷 Attachment to Animals: A Safe Haven for Healing

Attachment theory tells us that early relationships shape how we love, trust, and manage emotions. For children who have experienced trauma, those attachment templates are often fractured.

Animals can offer a unique path to repair:

• Unconditional acceptance – Connection without judgment or expectation

• Safe haven & secure base – Emotional refuge and confidence to explore

• Nonverbal communication – Comfort through presence, not pressure

“Animals provide a judgment-free, stable relationship that offers neither betrayal nor emotional ambiguity.”
— Psychologs

The secure attachment a child may form with a therapy animal can be the first step toward rebuilding trust in relationships.

🌀 Circle of Security & Animals: A Shared Language of Safety

The Circle of Security is a caregiving model that helps children feel secure enough to explore the world—and safe enough to return when they need comfort. Therapy animals often reflect this cycle beautifully:

• As a secure base, they encourage confidence to take emotional or social risks

• As a safe haven, they provide calm and grounding when the world feels overwhelming

• Through simple “being with”, they offer attunement without judgment

“Whether it’s a baby reaching for their parent or a puppy nudging your hand for reassurance, the drive for connection runs deep. This isn’t just a human thing—it’s a mammal thing.”
— Circle of Security International

🐾 Real Lives, Real Impact – Amazing Animals

These stories show how animals support emotional recovery and create safe relationships for children who have experienced trauma:

• Amira & Toby – After multiple failed placements, Amira whispered, “He’s the only one who doesn’t leave.”
  🔗 Read more
• Eli & Sunshine – A withdrawn boy found calm simply by sitting beside a therapy rabbit
  🔗 Read more
• Rani & Blaze – After domestic violence, Rani found emotional safety in grooming and caring for a pony
  🔗 Read more
• Jasper the Golden Retriever – Supported an autistic child with social confidence
  🔗 Read more
• Daisy the Hospital Hero – Lifted a young cancer patient’s spirits during treatment
  🔗 Read more
• Bailey the Rescue Dog – Anchored a man’s recovery from addiction
  🔗 Read more
• Takoda the Gentle Giant – Provided stress relief to students through campus visits
  🔗 Read more
• Moose the Rescue – Offered calm and care to patients and students in high-stress settings
  🔗 Read more
• Mrs. Thompson & the Memory Dogs – Reignited speech and joy in a woman with dementia
  🔗 Read more

📍 Accessing Animal-Assisted Therapy in the UK

These trusted organisations offer therapy sessions and animal-assisted experiences—many based in Surrey or the South East:

You can ask your supervising social worker, Virtual School head, or SEND team about referral routes and funding options for AAT in your area.

🐕 Final Thoughts

For children who have experienced trauma, a therapy animal may be the first safe connection they’ve ever known. The kind that doesn’t expect perfection or explanations—just presence.

Animal-assisted therapy doesn’t erase the past. But it offers a doorway to healing, trust, and emotional repair. Sometimes, it begins with the wag of a tail, or a paw held out.

If you would like to find out more about fostering and the amazing difference you could make in a young persons life. Give usa call on 0203 757 0070 or click HERE to receive a call back. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have on fostering and take you through the process.

As a Supervising Social Worker, one of the most powerful dynamics I witness is when foster carers work in partnership with birth families. It’s not always easy, in fact, for many foster carers, the idea of building a relationship with a child’s birth parents can be one of the most daunting aspects of fostering. However, when it works, it can be one of the most transformative and rewarding parts of the journey, especially for the child at the centre of it all.

The challenge and the importance of overcoming it

Working closely with birth families can bring up a wide range of emotions for foster carers. Some may feel anxious or protective of the child, unsure of how to engage with parents who may have struggled to provide safe or consistent care. Others worry about boundaries, allegations, or the emotional toll of becoming involved in sometimes complex family dynamics. I often have carers say that they feel like they are being pulled into the chaos! 

These concerns are completely valid. As professionals, we see the impact of generational trauma, instability, and sadly, we often see poor outcomes for looked-after children in comparison to their peers. But we also see the full picture, including the potential for change, the power of relationships, and the child’s deep-rooted need for connection with their birth families.

For looked-after children, their identity is tied closely to their birth family. No matter the circumstances, most children maintain a psychological bond with their birth parents. When foster carers can respect and promote that connection, children often feel less conflicted, more secure, and more able to settle at home and school.

Building Trust and Rebalancing Power

When a child comes into care, it’s not just the child who experiences loss; their birth parents do too. For many parents, having their child removed from their care feels like they have lost control, authority, and even their sense of identity as a parent. These feelings are often accompanied by feelings of judgement, shame, anger or helplessness. Imagine what it must be like to no longer make the day-to-day decisions for your child, even down to what food they eat and the clothes that they wear. This is where I have seen foster carers have a powerful impact; it’s the simple things, such as asking the parent whether they would like to bring food for their child during family time, and dressing them in outfits their parent may have bought for them. 

Often it’s the smallest gestures that send the biggest message – a warm hello during family time, sharing regular updates or photos, or speaking respectfully and being authentically positive about a child’s parent. Foster carers can help parents feel seen, respected and involved. These small wins can go a long way in building trust and restoring a sense of dignity for birth parents. 

Real Relationships, Real Rewards

When a foster carer shows that they are not trying to replace a parent, it shifts the dynamic completely. It softens resistance, reduces conflict, and allows for the possibility of real collaboration. For the child, seeing the most important adults in their life communicate and cooperate with each other signifies that adults can work together in their best interest. It sends a message to the child that they don’t have to feel conflicted and choose a side, and that they are truly being cared for in a united way. In turn, this can lead to improved behaviour, more secure attachments, and a more stable placement.

I’ve also seen wonderful examples where partnership working leads to smoother transitions back home, better outcomes in education and emotional wellbeing, and even ongoing relationships post-placement. Many foster carers remain a positive presence in a child’s life long after they’ve returned to their family — as mentors, friends, or extended support.

Of course, it’s not always possible or safe to develop close ties with every birth family, and where that’s the case, it’s vital to prioritise boundaries and personal safety of the foster family. But when it is possible, and when foster carers are supported to explore this relationship carefully and professionally, the rewards can be immense.

At Ascent, we recognise how complex this can be. That’s why we offer training, supervision, and hands-on support to help carers navigate these relationships. Whether it’s managing boundaries, preparing for contact, or offering a therapeutic understanding of family dynamics. Working with birth families may not always be straightforward, but when approached with empathy, clear communication, and the right support, it can be one of the most meaningful parts of fostering.

If you would like to find out more about fostering and the amazing difference you could make in a young persons life. Give usa call on 0203 757 0070 or click HERE to receive a call back. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have on fostering and take you through the process.

Over the years working in fostering, one group of people has quietly stayed with me, not because they make a fuss, but because they rarely do.

They’re not the ones coming into care. They’re not the ones filling in forms or sitting in meetings. But they are right there, every single day, living it too.

These are the birth children in fostering families, both young and grown. The foster siblings. The quiet heroes.

When a new child comes into a home, it’s a big transition for everyone. And while we (rightly) surround the foster child with care and support, it’s easy to forget that the children already in the family, whether they’re still at home or have flown the nest, are on a journey of their own.

Foster siblings, of all ages:

• Share their home, their routines, and their parents’ attention
• Witness trauma they may not fully understand
• Form strong bonds, only to face painful goodbyes
• Carry big emotions they don’t always have words for
• Offer wisdom, reassurance, or a listening ear based on their own experience

And through it all, they often do what they’ve always done; they get on with it. But that doesn’t mean they’re unaffected. Their feelings, their needs, and their role in fostering matter too.

Fostering impacts the whole family. And we’ve seen how powerful it is when birth children, both young and adult, feel included, supported, and truly valued. They’re not just “coping” with fostering, they’re part of it. They help create the safe, loving home every foster child deserves.

How Our Agency Supports Birth Children

We care deeply about the experience of foster siblings and make a conscious effort to include and support them, regardless of age. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Checking In on Everyone

Our Supervising Social Workers (SSWs) always try to include birth children in their regular visits, whether they’re still living at home or popping in to support. We ask how they’re doing, not as an afterthought, but because we genuinely want to know.

Extra Support When It’s Needed

If a child or young adult needs more support, we can involve our amazing mentors and therapeutic consultants. Whether it’s space to talk, help processing a goodbye, or just feeling a little more seen, we’re here.

Inclusion in Activities and Events

Birth children are invited to our agency’s activities and celebrations. That includes teens, little ones, and even adult children who remain closely connected to their fostering family. They’re not “tagging along”, they’re part of the fostering family, and they belong at the heart of it.

To the Quiet Heroes…

To every child, teenager, or adult who has made room, physically and emotionally, for a foster sibling: ‘You are incredible!’

We know it’s not always easy.

We know it can be confusing, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming.

But we see the kindness you show.

We see the patience, the sharing, the quiet understanding.

Whether you’re still at home or now supporting from a distance, you matter.

You might not shout it from the rooftops, but what you do makes a difference. More than you probably realise.

You help make fostering possible.

You help make healing happen.

And we’re so, so grateful for you.

Nicky Challen-Probert

Team Manager

If you would like to find out more about fostering and the amazing difference you could make in a young persons life. Give usa call on 0203 757 0070 or click HERE to receive a call back. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have on fostering and take you through the process.

Dear young person,

We are two months into 2025, and this new year leaves me with optimism. A fresh year to achieve all your desired life goals that you aspire to obtain. One constant thing is the need for you to remain safe. Safety In the Community applies all year round and applies to us all. Old or young, we all share the responsibility to be safe when outside of our homes. In the winter months, it’s about keeping yourselves warm, fed and vigilant as the nights draw in, you must actively keep yourselves aware when travelling alone and independently.

It is important to let a significant other, such as a trusted adult, know your whereabouts when travelling and also let them know who you are going to meet. Having a tracker app installed on your phone can also ensure that your trusted adult such as your foster parent can check where you are when travelling independently. It is also good to have travel apps such as Citymapper, National Rail etc. so you can plan your journey and be aware of any changes to the trains, tubes or bus timings. Don’t forget when you leave the house to have credit and charge on your phone!

It is helpful to conceal door keys and mobile phones, Apple ear pods, all of which should remain out of sight – you know the flashy stuff! The things we all value most, please keep these concealed when walking, in a taxi or on public transport.

As we start entering into spring and the summer months, it will get lighter and warmer and understandably you will want to be out more. These months are a time when people and families will come together, and enjoy outdoor activities, parties, BBQ’s and festivals happen. Whilst these events will be new, exciting and fun, you and your friends must look out for one another – a good friend won’t ask you to do something you are uncomfortable with. If at any point you feel you can’t say no, ask yourself: ‘Am I in a safe situation?’ Our bodies are also really smart and can tell us if we do not feel safe such as feeling a pounding heart or a churning stomach. If you feel like this, speak to someone you trust who can help you, this could be your foster parent, a mentor or another trusted adult.

All year round, you will be accessing money, whether that be cash, online banking or withdrawing money out in the community. Remember to be vigilant at cash machines and take note of people around you. Conceal PINs and opt to have someone you know with you at a cash machine, especially if you are accessing one in the evening or night.

You may also have the opportunity to travel outside of London or even the UK, please ensure that when in airports or abroad, you have concealed your passports and important belongings from prying eyes. Other helpful tips you can use are not divulging to strangers where you are staying, personal information about yourself or your general location.

Being an adolescent is a time for exploration whether it be learning a new hobby or wanting to spend more time with friends, developing independence, and having fun! We very much want to support you in all these areas and help you feel safe when out in the community.

Dimitri Jordan, Head of Youth Engagement and Independence

If you would like to find out more about fostering and the amazing difference you could make in a young persons life. Give usa call on 0203 757 0070 or click HERE to receive a call back. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have on fostering and take you through the process.

At Ascent Fostering, we understand the profound importance of identity for the children we look after. For many young people in care, their sense of self is often shaped by multiple experiences, some positive and others challenging. Whether they’ve experienced trauma, neglect, or multiple foster placements, finding and holding onto their identity can feel like a difficult journey. But we are committed to ensuring that their path towards self-discovery is one that is supported, respected, and nurtured.

One of the core values we hold at Ascent Fostering is the belief in cultural matches whenever possible. We know that children from diverse backgrounds thrive best when they are placed with foster families who understand and can celebrate their culture, heritage, and traditions. It helps them feel seen, heard, and valued for who they truly are.

However, we also understand that there may be times when a perfect cultural match isn’t immediately available. In these instances, we don’t settle for simply placing a child in a home where they might feel disconnected from their own cultural roots. Instead, we ensure that each child’s sense of identity remains a priority, regardless of the circumstances.

When a cultural match isn’t possible, our priority shifts to ensuring that children have the tools and spaces to explore and celebrate their identity in other ways. At Ascent Fostering, we have created a range of facilities for children to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences about who they are. Through our Youth Panel and 1-1 consultations, we actively encourage children to open up about what makes them feel connected to their culture and heritage and to explore their identity in their own time and space.

We value every child’s voice, and it’s through these discussions that we can learn what matters most to them. Our dedicated mentors act on the feedback children provide. For example, if a young person shares an interest in learning more about their background, we don’t simply listen we act.

Our mentors often collaborate with the children to create experiences that help them embrace and celebrate their unique identity. If a child expresses an interest in learning more about their cultural heritage, we may arrange workshops on their background or even take them on educational trips to places like history museums that showcase their roots.

Additionally, practical experiences like a trip to the barbers to maintain a traditional hairstyle or teaching young people how to style and braid hair can help build a tangible connection to their culture. These activities aren’t just about learning a skill they’re about fostering a deep sense of pride and ownership over who they are and where they come from.

A child’s identity is nurtured not only through the facilities we provide but also through the caring relationships they build with their foster carers. At Ascent Fostering, we ensure our foster carers are fully supported in their journey. This means providing specialised training, access to therapeutic spaces, and continuous support to each other as they navigate the complexities of caring for children in foster care.

Our foster carers are more than just providers of a safe home they are key partners in helping children explore and solidify their sense of self. By receiving ongoing support, guidance, and access to a community of other foster carers, they are better equipped to create a sense of belonging for the children they care for. They are empowered to celebrate the child’s unique identity and provide a space where the child feels truly seen and accepted.

For some of the children we care for, their journey through multiple foster agencies has led them to experience a sense of disconnection from their identity. They may feel as though they have lost touch with who they are or where they come from. This is especially true for children who have been moved from placement to placement without consistent support around their cultural and emotional needs.

But here at Ascent Fostering, we are committed to changing that narrative. We believe that identity isn’t just something to be protected it is something to be actively nurtured and celebrated. Identity is key to helping these young people thrive and reach their full potential.

We provide the support, tools, and resources they need to rebuild that connection to themselves. Whether it’s a cultural workshop, a meaningful conversation, or simply providing a safe space for expression, we work tirelessly to ensure that each child’s identity is honoured, respected, and cherished.

At Ascent Fostering, we recognize that a child’s identity is their foundation everything they will build upon. Our goal is to make sure that identity is never lost, never overlooked, and never taken for granted. Through our tailored support, programs, and deep commitment to the children in our care, we aim to empower each young person to explore, embrace, and celebrate who they truly are. When children have a strong sense of identity, they can confidently face the world and reach for their dreams. They have the tools to thrive, to belong, and to become the very best version of themselves. This is why identity matters so much to us, and why it’s central to everything we do here at Ascent Fostering.

If you would like to find out more about fostering and the amazing difference you could make in a young persons life. Give usa call on 0203 757 0070 or click HERE to receive a call back. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have on fostering and take you through the process.

I believe we are all leaders – there are always people around us watching what we do and possibly following our path – this might be our children, staff or team members or in the case of a young person – a younger sibling or young people in their school.

Being a leader comes naturally to the few but for the majority it develops through practice and hard graft. We learn from our mistakes, from being pushed into awkward or uncomfortable situations, confronted with difficult people or problems to resolve we’d rather not do!

Leadership is a vital skill and one of the founding principles of youth organisations since the early 20th century such as the Scouts, Guides and Cadets and DofE. In these spaces young people were given responsibility and opportunities to lead each other, to make tough decisions and to role model to younger children healthy values, to show empathy and nurture and to contribute to a healthy community culture.

Fast forward to 2025 and a world where being an influencer is more attractive than being a leader is there still a place for leadership? Absolutely! But what about young people in the care sector? They have often faced barriers to accessing leadership opportunities – through inconsistent attendance, struggling to engage, anxiety and low self confidence. They’ve often not been given the chance to develop those skills because they’ve got so many things going on in their lives and barriers to even being in the room.

We can’t ignore this backdrop and we shouldn’t underestimate the challenge but we must also not shy away from the impact leadership can have on their lives. At Ascent we are we are deeply committed to developing our young people and preparing them for life as independent adults. To do that we have to challenging young people to develop leadership and confidence. This might be by encouraging them to take part in a school play, learning an instrument, taking responsibility in a sports team or helping lead in planning a family activity.

At the root of this there is a challenge for us as foster carers, birth parents or mentors that we must keep believing in our young people – that when they fall down (and they will) they shall arise. We need to pick them up, encourage them to dust themselves off and go again. Its then that we help unlock the skills the talent and the potential that lies within them. If they can find self esteem purpose and fulfilment through positions of responsibility, however small, it will set a course for their lives which will go beyond surviving and take them to thriving.

In my own story I set up a youth charity in Croydon called Reaching Higher because I could see these opportunities were excluded from so many. The work took hold and it grew and is now led by a former beneficiary and a team of many former service users inspired to not just benefit from an organisation but get involved, take the lead and direct its future as it now supports thousands of young people. At Reaching Higher the mantra was and is to “challenge young people to be leaders of their own lives”. We lay that same challenge at Ascent.

In October 2024 six of our young people took part in a residential trip to Botswana, Africa. They spent time out of their comfort zone, they engaged in a totally different community, they took personal responsibility and they role modelled values to younger children – reading English with young children in a local school. These are life changing experiences.

But most importantly this is a a life changing message to each of our young people.

“You can make a difference!”
“You have something to give!”
“We see and believe in you as a leader!”

This message will set a course for their lives – to stretch for more. So lets keep cheering this generation on and lets keep developing leaders who have a far brighter future than they’ve ever imagined.

If you would like to find out more about fostering and the amazing difference you could make in a young persons life. Give usa call on 0203 757 0070 or click HERE to receive a call back. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have on fostering and take you through the process.

Choosing to become a foster carer puts you in the unique and special position of being able to make a significant positive difference in the lives of children and young people. You will be providing a safe and secure home, as well as a nurturing and caring bond, in circumstances where children are unable to live with their birth parents. 

The care, support and guidance that a child receives whilst in foster care can have a significant, long-lasting, and life-changing impact on them. Therefore, foster carers must have the right training and support to develop their skills and knowledge to offer the best level of care possible to children and young people.

Training and Development:

One of Ascent’s values is our commitment to being a learning and development organisation. This means that we are passionate about the whole team around the child being offered high-quality training and access to development opportunities in their respective roles. Each year foster carers are supported to think about their learning and development needs through a Personal Development Plan (PDP) that is reviewed every six months. Although the National Minimum Standards and Fostering Regulations outline fostering services as the minimum requirements and expectations for carers, we have high expectations of our carers’ commitment and dedication to the fostering task. Part of this is their commitment to their learning and development so they are equipped with the necessary skills to support and nurture the children and young people in their care. This year, over half of our carers completed double, and seven of our carers completed three times the required amount of training.

Prospective foster carers are provided with training through the assessment process called Skills to Foster to help them understand and be prepared for the fostering role. Thereafter, Ascent provides a wide breadth of training to foster carers, this includes mandatory courses such as safeguarding or first aid but also how to support a child’s cultural, ethnic or religious needs. Ascent also provides a variety of therapeutic parenting courses and therapeutic workshops which provide carers with an understanding of their children’s early life experiences and how this may have impacted their emotional, physical, social and psychological development. It also provides them with strategies and tools for how best to support the children in their care. 

By providing a child with a secure and therapeutic environment, children and young people can commence on their journey to recovery, which then gives them the very best prospects on a long-term basis. Therefore, through foster carers being committed to their continued training and development, they can provide improved outcomes for children, reaffirming feelings of security, trust, and safety. Consistency in care and gentle guidance allows them to thrive. Training gives you the necessary skills to provide this.

Conclusion:

By engaging in regular training opportunities and workshops, foster carers are given the necessary tools and knowledge needed to help children and young people in a variety of situations from a diverse range of backgrounds. You will also have access to peer support from experienced foster carers, supervision and support from your Supervising Social Worker, and access to Therapeutic Consultants.

Fostering is an all-encompassing and welcoming family community. Your commitment to helping children and young people grow and thrive is matched by our commitment to helping you learn and deliver.