Suffolk Foster Carers Association

Run BY Suffolk foster carers FOR Suffolk foster carers

About Us

To provide effective support for foster carers, to represent their views, and to assist foster carers to advocate effectively for the children in their care. To promote and develop partnership with the local authority and all relevant agencies to ensure that looked after children in Suffolk receive the best service possible and achieve good life outcomes. To develop awareness and knowledge amongst foster carers and those agencies working with looked after children. We are active on the Fostering Network’s East of England Regional Forum and the National Forum. We are also represented on Suffolk County Council’s Corporate Parenting Board.

Success Stories

‘When Ben arrived in our family he was troubled and frightened. He had come from a home where his situation was uncertain and his family could never guarantee the next meal. After some time had passed he really started to open up to us and he flourished. He joined the local football club and we realised he had an interest in politics. I took this picture at one of our family days out, Ben is in the middle. He is part of our family as far as we are concerned and he seems so far from the child we first met. Ben has been with us for 12 years now and last week he graduated from the university of Exeter with a degree in political science. We are so proud of how far he has come and very excited about his future. ‘ Mr and Mrs Foster carer

Useful Links and Information

Self harm guide DLA guidance Fostering statement of purpose Guide to income tax SCC fostering guides and fostering manual, Suffolk Promise (also Suffolk infolink, CPD, policy and procedures database, The Source – help and advice for young people in Suffolk) Up to date tier level guide Further reading list Documentaries: Protecting our foster kids

Want to add your skills to the association? Want to make a difference for foster children?

Please get in touch

Our Association Members

A few of our members

Michael Southin

Chair

I have retired having spent much of my life as a Management Consultant before buying and running a number of businesses of my own. The last we developed into the largest and most successful Energy Consultancy and Information provider in the UK working with the country’s largest consumers, the principal energy providers and government both directly and with its appointment regulators. I have also been a volunteer non executive director on the board of the HSCC the premier historic and classic motor racing body based at Silverstone. My wife and I started fostering for Essex in 2004 but stopped when our own children were born. We returned to helping children a few years later when we started to work with Catch 22 teenagers before returning to fostering with Suffolk. In addition to fostering my wife is a school governor and is a member of the governing body for the Virtual School with Suffolk looking after the education needs for all children In Care. I also sit as a voluntary panel member with Youth Offending helping children who find themselves in trouble. I believe I have demonstrated an ability to work across a number of disciplines at a variety of levels and with people in the voluntary sector as well as a range of professional bodies and legislative organisation.