Plymouth Businesses: A Call to Action for Foster Care Support

This Foster Care Fortnight (12 – 25 May) Plymouth Charter are standing with Foster for Plymouth and asking businesses and employers, to show their support for foster carers in our community. 

Plymouth is facing a growing need for foster families with significantly more children requiring care than available homes, we need to take responsibility and act.

Plymouth Charter believe we can do that by showing care and support to foster families and the children and young people they support.  

What can you, or your business do, to make a difference?

We would like you to: 

Find out more about Foster for Plymouth 

Thanks to those who joined us, and colleagues from Foster for Plymouth, for our online lunchtime sharing discussion on Wed 14 May, 1 – 2.30pm.

In this session we looked at how businesses, and individuals, can better understand and support foster carers and foster children through policies and education. 

Access the presentation and please do share!

Presentation - Foster for Plymouth for Businesses

Show Your Support 

Many children in foster care face challenges transitioning between homes and navigating the complexities of their situations. We all have a duty to:  

• Raise awareness: Educate yourself, friends, family and colleagues about the realities of foster care and help dispel common misconceptions, follow Foster for Plymouth on their social media channels

  • https://www.facebook.com/fosterforplymouth  

  • https://www.instagram.com/fosterforplymouth

  • https://www.linkedin.com/company/foster-for-plymouth-plymouth-city-council  

• Offer practical assistance: Highlight opportunities for donating, or providing in-kind support to foster families in your place of work. For example providing a free day out to foster families, offer a discount to foster carers or enable the Foster for Plymouth team to use your venue for events. To get involved email fostering@plymouth.gov.uk

• Share Fostering Support Information: Share this leaflet in your business to highlight the need for fostering in Plymouth on your intranet, staff room or shared platforms and add this information to your internal communication channels:  

• This Foster Care Fortnight (12 – 25 May), we are standing with Foster for Plymouth and Plymouth Charter to support foster carers in our community. With a growing need for foster families, we believe we can make a difference by showing care and support to foster families and children. Together, we can create a positive impact in our business communities. Be active by: Becoming a Fostering-Friendly Employer and sharing promotional materials or offering discounts to foster families. Find out more visit Foster for Plymouth or follow them on social media channels.  

If you’d like access to Foster for Plymouth’s business toolkit with more promotional material, please contact communications@plymouth.gov.uk.

Become a Fostering-Friendly Employer: A Commitment to Supporting Employees 

This initiative recognises the unique challenges faced by foster carers and aims to provide workplace support, including: 

• Flexible working arrangements: Understanding the demands of fostering requires flexibility in work schedules and responsibilities. 

• Time off for training and appointments: Foster carers require time for mandatory training and meetings with social workers. 

• Supportive management: A compassionate and understanding work environment is crucial for reducing stress and fostering a sense of security. 

• Access to employee assistance programs (EAPs): Providing resources for emotional and mental well-being can be vital for foster carers. 

Becoming a Fostering-Friendly Employer is not only ethically responsible but also demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being and a positive work environment.  

Find out more about becoming a fostering friendly employer by visiting The Fostering Network's website, and please let us and the Foster for Plymouth team know so that we can celebrate your commitment. www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk 

Foster for Plymouth is a not-for-profit fostering organisation, and part of Plymouth City Council, doing all they can to ensure children and young people are cared for in the way they deserve within a safe, loving, family home environment.