Miracle’s Top Tips for Foster Carers
Introduction
Miracle is a Buckinghamshire Care Ambassador. Care Ambassadors are care-experienced young people and young adults who work closely with the Youth Voice Bucks team to improve experiences for children and young people in Care.
On Thursday 23 May one of our Care Ambassadors, Miracle, gave a speech at a Foster Carer Event to mark Fostering Fortnight at The Gateway.
About the event
The event brought existing and potential new foster carers together to give updates and promote fostering through Buckinghamshire Council.
Miracle supported by speaking about her experiences of being in care and the difference that her foster carers have made to her. She also joined table conversations, networked with attendees, and shared Top Tips.
How did it go?
Miracle said she felt ‘buzzing’ after speaking and was extremely proud of herself!
Miracle’s Top Tips for Foster Carers
- Teach children independence in creative ways
- Empower the child to always make sure they are at or trying their best
- Make a safe space for the child to be able to talk about their mental health, emotions, or anything else.
- Be accepting! Any child can come into care. They could be black, Asian, gay or transgender – it doesn’t matter. Support and accept them.
- Accept help, there is plenty of support and programmes available for foster carers to support you.
- If something isn’t being done for the child, make sure it is brought up in meetings.
- Try to keep on top of reports, don’t let them fall behind.
- Always encourage the child to try out difference experiences, including work experience. It is hard for us to get jobs but know there is plenty of support out there such as things like internships.
- Encourage the children to play and exercise. Being active helps with mental health and wellbeing.
What’s next?
Miracle’s full speech and Top Tips are shared here so that they can be used in future to help foster carers support children and young people.
Her words and photos from the day have also been used by the Fostering team on social media to help recruit new foster carers.
Miracle is keen to speak at future events which the Youth Voice Bucks team will happily support with!