For Foster Care Fortnight, we spoke with our ambassador, former Olympian and Commonwealth medalist Leon Reid, about his journey through foster care.

From the age of four, Leon moved through around 14 foster homes. Here, he shares his experiences, the challenges he faced, and the people and moments that shaped his life. 

Can you remember when you first went into foster care?
It’s all a bit of a blur. I was about four or five. I remember playing in a paddling pool with my brother, then suddenly being in a car with my aunt and uncle. Back then, it just felt like I was always on the move.  I was told I wasn’t going to live with my mum and dad anymore, but at that age, I didn’t really understand what that meant. I thought maybe this was just how life worked. We lived with my aunt and uncle for a while, but brother was going through a really difficult time and it became hard for them to manage, and so we moved into foster care. We stayed together for a while, but as we needed different kinds of support, they decided it would be better to place us separately. 

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At Break, we often meet people who are curious about fostering but aren’t sure it’s something they can do, especially while working or raising their own family. That’s where being a Support Foster Carer comes in.

In this honest and insightful account, Jules, one of our amazing support foster carers, shares how she found a meaningful way to make a difference - while still working and raising her son. Her story shows that fostering doesn’t have to be “all or nothing.”

With support fostering, it’s possible to give children vital care and stability during short breaks, while also helping foster families that much needed break.

Because sometimes, changing a child’s life starts with something as simple as a weekend.

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Over the past three years, the amazing team at Xaar, the leading inkjet technology specialist based in Cambridge, have gone above and beyond in support of Break. Through their dedication and hard work, they’ve raised a phenomenal £100,000 to help us continue our work support young people growing up in care and leaving care.  

From the moment Xaar chose Break as their Charity of the Year three years ago, their staff dived headfirst into making a difference. Whether it was running marathons, scaling the Three Peaks, skydiving, or lending their hands to painting and gardening at our children’s homes, or supported our popular sculpture trails – their commitment has been inspiring. 

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As Vice-Chair of the Fostering Panel, you will work closely with our panel members to ensure that decisions about foster carers and placements are informed by the best interests of the children in care. You will be responsible for guiding discussions, leading decision-making processes, and providing leadership to ensure that all decisions align with our commitment to trauma-informed care.

When not required to chair you will be an active panel member contributing to the decision making under the lead of the panel chair.

Key Responsibilities:

• To chair panel meetings, in the absence of the Panel Chair, ensuring that all items of business are covered and that the panel operates in accordance with regulations and the policies and procedures of Break Fostering Service.
• Lead discussions around the assessment and approval of foster carers, ensuring that decisions are base don careful, evidence based evaluation of carers' suitability.
• To promote collaborative decision making, fostering a supportive environment where all panel members' perspectives are heard and respected.
• To ensure that those attending panel are treated with courtesy and respect, addressing diversity issues and promoting anti-discriminatory practice at all times.
• Provide leadership to panel members, supporting their development and encouraging ongoing learning about trauma- informed care and fostering best practices.

You can claim mileage up to 60 miles from your home address at 45 pence per mile.

You will need to attend 1 day of training per year, plus a virtual induction session.

Click here for full job details

Why You Should Become a Foster Carer: Changing Lives, One Child at a Time
At The Foster Care Charity, we are passionate about giving children, especially those with experience in care, the chance to thrive. We believe fostering plays a pivotal role in providing the foundation for their future s

To flourish, children need a stable and nurturing environment that includes emotional support, education, and the encouragement to pursue their passions. A sense of security helps them develop confidence and resilience—key traits for overcoming life’s challenges.

How Does Fostering Provide the Best Opportunity?
Fostering offers children a safe, supportive home where they can heal and grow. Our matching process ensures that carers and children are well-suited, fostering long-term success. We are proud of our strong track record in making these connections.

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A charity that helps children and young people who have experience of being in care has appealed for volunteer mentors.

The Break Charity, external said it was looking for mentors for ten youngsters in the area of King's Lynn, Norfolk.

The mentors, who need to be over the age of 21, would be asked to commit to a year of supporting a young person with regular meetings, in which they can share life skills and try new activities.

Maren Albrigtsen, the charity's mentoring lead, said, in particular, those leaving care at the age of 18 benefit from having positive and caring role models.

Liam, 23, said the experience of having to leave his children's home on his 18th birthday was really challenging.

He was matched with his mentor, Mark, a year ago and he said it has been one of the best things he has ever done.

"The one-to-one aspect of being with him really helps. [Mark] was a school teacher and now he works with children at an outdoor activity centre.

"One thing I love about Mark is we both really love football. So it's much easier to start a conversation with him than with someone who doesn't like football.

"It's scary at first because you don't know the person. But now it's working really well for me."

After being matched with a young person, mentors will have supervised sessions with Break staff while everyone gets to know each other.

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​We are seeking a Deputy Manager to join the team. We are looking for someone who has experience of supporting young people, either from a leaving care perspective or a housing related support service.  The successful applicant will contribute towards supporting the development of our Leaving Care project - Staying Close, Staying Connected.  The successful candidate will support the Service Manager to deliver an effective and efficient service which improve the outcomes for young people leaving care across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  Your supporting statement should closely reflect the requirements stipulated in the recruitment pack.

You will be enthusiastic, creative and motivated with a professional, caring and calm approach. You will be able to demonstrate commitment, flexibility and imagination. Have experience of working in an emotionally intelligent way, be resilient and have the maturity to offer a balanced perspective.

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As a Supervising Social Worker, you will contribute to the growth and development of St Christopher’s fostering services by playing a key role in the recruitment, training and assessment of foster carers and by building positive relationships with referring authorities and other professionals.

Applicants should have:

• CQSW, DipSW, BA Social Work or equivalent professional qualification, and registration with the Health and Care Professions Care Council (HCPC).
• Experience of working in fostering or adoption.
• Knowledge of relevant child care legislation.
• Ability to manage your caseload effectively and to plan and priorities work to meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication, motivation and team work skills.
• Ability to travel independently to all areas required by job responsibilities.
• Passion for building brighter futures for vulnerable young people and delivering the highest quality services possible.

Click here for full job details

We are seeking a Deputy Manager to join the team. We are looking for someone who has experience of supporting young people, either from a leaving care perspective or a housing related support service.  The successful applicant will contribute towards supporting the development of our Leaving Care project - Staying Close, Staying Connected.  The successful candidate will support the Service Manager to deliver an effective and efficient service which improve the outcomes for young people leaving care across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  Your supporting statement should closely reflect the requirements stipulated in the recruitment pack.

You will be enthusiastic, creative and motivated with a professional, caring and calm approach. You will be able to demonstrate commitment, flexibility and imagination. Have experience of working in an emotionally intelligent way, be resilient and have the maturity to offer a balanced perspective.

 Click here for full job details

Could you help steer and govern a leading, high profile and dynamic East Anglian charity to new heights?

Are you committed to improving young lives?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity to join our organisation as a Trustee (voluntary position).

We are particularly seeking to recruit to the Board applicants with expertise in one of the following:

• Strategic leadership in children’s social care services
  
• Experienced strategic marketeer/communicator
  
• Strategic leadership in business or entrepreneurial expertise

What we are looking for:
We are seeking to recruit trustees with different areas of expertise who are committed to helping us to deliver our vision and mission.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our Board and making sure we best reflect the young people and families we serve. For this reason, we would particularly welcome applications from:

• People, including young adults, who were in the care system themselves or who have lived experience of the care system
  
• Applicants from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic backgrounds
  
• Applicants who have a disability

This is an opportunity to join an experienced and dedicated Trustee Board, working alongside a professional and skilled Senior Management Team that lead an agile and highly qualified workforce, to give the very best care to each young person in our services.

As a Break trustee you will:

• Help steer a large and complex organisation through further development of its strategic direction.
  
• Understand the difference between governance and executive management roles.
  
• Think strategically and creatively.
  
• Set clear corporate objectives and effectively performance manage.
  
• Be a role model and committed to the values of organisation.
  
• Have a track record of motivating others to strive for excellence.

Click here for full details