FosterTalk

06/10/2026

📢 Important update for FosterTalk members

From 11 October 2026, our counselling service will be moving from Optima to Vita Health Group.

Vita will provide FosterTalk members with access to a confidential counselling and emotional wellbeing service, available 24/7, 365 days a year.

We’ve emailed members with full details about the change, what support will be available and what to expect when accessing the new service.

📩 Please check your inbox for the full update and further information.

21/09/2026

💙 Our FosterTalk office will be closed on 23rd September

On Wednesday, the FosterTalk team is coming together for a full-day staff team meeting.

It’s a great opportunity for our team to catch up, share ideas, look at what we’ve been working on and think about how we can continue to make a difference for our members and the fostering and kinship care community. 💬✨

While our office is closed, your 24-hour membership services are still available. You can find the relevant telephone numbers in your membership information, including details of our out-of-hours support services.

We’ll be back in the office and ready to help on Thursday!

Thank you for your understanding and, as always, for being part of the FosterTalk community. 💙

18/09/2026

🧡Read about our FosterTalk Wellbeing Day - Link in our bio 👆

18/09/2026

✨ Taking time to recharge so we can continue supporting you. ✨

Recently, the FosterTalk team enjoyed a dedicated Staff Wellbeing Day at the beautiful Greenhouse at Barnes Close.

From getting creative with Dragonfly Crafting Workshops and enjoying a delicious brunch, to relaxing walks, visiting the alpacas, mindfulness, yoga with Dr Emily Harris from Nurture Place, and finishing with afternoon tea, the day gave us the opportunity to pause, reconnect and invest in our wellbeing.

Supporting foster carers and our members is what we do every day, and we know that looking after our own wellbeing helps us bring the very best version of ourselves to the people we support.

As our Head of FosterTalk, Ruth Willetts, said:
"Investing in the wellbeing of our staff helps us return with renewed energy, fresh ideas and an even stronger commitment to delivering the high-quality support our members deserve."

Thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special. 💙

Read more about our Wellbeing Day here https://fostertalk.org/fostertalk-team-takes-time-to-recharge-at-wellbeing-day/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

How does your fostering or kinship service support the wellbeing of your carers or staff? We'd love to hear about the initiatives, events or opportunities you offer. Share them with us in the comments or send us a message—you could be featured in an upcoming edition of the FosterTalk Newsletter, helping to inspire others across the fostering community.

Discover how respite care supports both foster carers and children, helping make fostering sustainable and rewarding for the long term.

16/09/2026

💬 This is the kind of feedback that means so much to us.

We’ve recently begun our partnership with National Fostering Group, and last week we attended NFA North for the first time to deliver a support group for their foster carers.

The Regional Manager who attended the session with us later shared some lovely feedback from one of her foster carers, who has been fostering for eight years:

“One of the carers said it was one of the best support groups she has attended in the eight years she has been fostering.” ❤️

To hear that after our very first session with NFA North was such a wonderful way to start our partnership.

At FosterTalk, we’re passionate about making sure foster and kinship carers feel supported, listened to and valued throughout their fostering journey — whether they’re new to fostering or have been doing it for many years.

That’s what FosterTalk membership is all about: real support for real carers. 🧡

We support more than 40,000 members across the UK, with access to:

🧡 24/7 legal, counselling and medical helplines
🧡 Legal insurance
🧡 Specialist tax and benefits advice
🧡 Fostering training
🧡 Allegations support
…and much more.

We’re delighted to be working with National Fostering Group and look forward to supporting even more of their carers.

If your fostering agency is looking for a membership partner that puts carers at the heart of what it does, we’d love to talk.

👉 Find out more at fostertalk.org

15/09/2026

🎗️ Reduce Your Risk: Understanding Breast Cancer & How to Protect Your Health

We’re excited to be joined by Thalie Martini from Breast Cancer UK for an informative and interactive webinar exploring what we can all do to understand and reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Did you know that at least 1 in 4 breast cancers may be preventable through lifestyle and environmental factors?

During the session, Thalie will explore:

🔹 Breast cancer and the factors that can affect your risk
🔹 The role of lifestyle, hormones, the environment and everyday chemicals
🔹 Practical ways to help reduce your risk
🔹 How to check your breasts or chest and what changes to look out for
🔹 The importance of awareness and early detection
🔹 Your questions answered in a live Q&A

Breast cancer touches so many lives, this event welcomes FosterTalk
members and fostering staff of all genders to attend.

📅 15 October
⏰ 11am–12pm

📩 Check your inbox for booking details and reserve your place.

03/09/2026

💛 September is Su***de Prevention Month

Every life matters. Every conversation matters. And sometimes, simply letting someone know that they are not alone can make a difference.

For those who have experienced care, the transition into adulthood can bring additional challenges, including loneliness, uncertainty and the loss of familiar support networks.

Recent figures published by the Department for Education make the need for continued support particularly stark.

In 2025, 112 deaths of care leavers aged 18–24 were notified to the Government. Of these, 40 were recorded as involving su***de.

Behind every statistic is a young person whose life mattered.

For foster and kinship carers, supporting a young person doesn't necessarily end when they leave care. Keeping the door open, staying connected and letting them know that someone is there can be incredibly important.

And it's important to remember that foster and kinship carers need support too.

As a FosterTalk member, you have access to a 24/7 counselling service, providing confidential emotional support whenever you need someone to talk to — day or night.

We're also proud that all of our FosterTalk Advice Line staff are Orange Button holders through the Every Life Matters programme. This means our Advice Line team has undertaken training to help them recognise when someone may be struggling with their mental health or experiencing thoughts of su***de, and to have supportive conversations about this.

This September, let's make time to ask, listen and talk.

💛 You don't have to have all the answers. Sometimes being there is the most important thing.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for support.

***dePreventionMonth ***dePrevention

28/08/2026

August Bank Holiday Closure

Please note that FosterTalk offices will be closed on Monday 31st August for the Bank Holiday and will reopen on Tuesday 1st September.

Our 24-hour helplines will remain open as usual, so support is always available if you need it.

Wishing everyone a safe and restful bank holiday.

26/08/2026

💜 A tribute to Dolly Parton – thank you for believing in the power of books 📚✨

Today, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the incredible legacy of Dolly Parton and her extraordinary commitment to helping children discover the joy of reading.

Through her Imagination Library, Dolly has helped put books into the hands of children who may otherwise have had fewer opportunities to build their own home library – including children in care.

Her belief is beautifully simple: every child should have the chance to experience the magic of a book.

For children in care, a book can be so much more than a story. It can be a place to escape, a chance to imagine, a way to learn, a source of comfort – and sometimes the beginning of a lifelong love of reading.

Dolly’s work has reached children across the UK, including children in care in Walsall, demonstrating the difference that access to books can make. 📖💜

From everyone at FosterTalk, thank you, Dolly, for using your platform and generosity to champion children, encourage reading and help open up a world of imagination and possibility.

Your legacy will continue through every child who picks up a book and discovers somewhere new to go. 🌟

Thank you for the stories, the imagination and the opportunities. 💜📚

25/08/2026

💙 Every care leaver should have someone in their corner

A new government review into the early deaths of young people who have left care has highlighted the profound isolation some care leavers experience as they move into adulthood.

The review sets out three key areas for change:
🏠 Better preparation for adulthood
🤝 More consistent support beyond the age of 18
👥 A stronger, better-skilled workforce supporting care leavers

In response, the Government has announced £25 million of investment this year to expand connected housing options through the Staying Close programme – helping more care leavers access safe homes alongside community, relationships and support.

The review also highlights the importance of enduring relationships and ensuring that young people leaving care aren't left feeling alone when they take their next steps into adulthood.

For foster carers, this is an important reminder of the lasting impact of the relationships we build with children and young people in our care. ❤️

📖 Read the full Government announcement and review:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/every-care-leaver-to-have-someone-in-their-corner-after-review?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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