Our fostering community

Foster Carers Association

Foster Carers Associations (FCAs) provide support and information for foster carers across the country. At Fostering Barnsley, we work with an amazing FCA.

They provide a year-round calendar of educational and fun activities for our children, young people and fostering families.

The FCA events are equally beneficial to the children and young people as well as the fostering families they have joined. These activities and days out give our children the opportunity to meet other children and young people in similar situations to themselves. It helps give them a sense of community, spirit and wellbeing, boosts their self-esteem and confidence and helps them to thrive and move forward on their own journey in life.

They also meet every month and share information up to the leadership team here at Barnsley and out to foster carers to support our fostering families and to improve the services offered to them.

Mockingbird hubs

Mockingbird Hubs make sure our foster families feel supported and connected in Barnsley. They’re a great way to see a community caring for each other in action. We currently have three in Barnsley, and we plan to create a fourth soon.

​A Mockingbird Hub is a small network or ‘constellation’ of foster families in the same area. Each hub has one experienced foster family who become the ‘hub home’. They provide support, social events and respite care for a handful of 6-8 ‘satellite’ foster families. 

​Being part of a hub creates community and support between nearby foster families.

Reasons we love Mockingbird hubs 

• Support network: Your hub home is always there for advice and assistance, so you never feel alone.  
• Respite care: Your hub home allows you to take a break when you need it, knowing the children are well cared for.
• Social activities: You and your foster children can connect with others through events and activities. 
• Guidance and training: You will learn and build your fostering skills with mentorship from experienced hub home carers.