Send us Fan Mail

Meet Callum, a former police officer who made the leap from frontline policing to becoming a Supervised Family Center Manager at Heath Farm. In this episode of Voices of Fostering, he shares how his police experience—from conflict management to communication skills—translates perfectly into supporting children in care.

In this episode, you'll discover:
✅ Why blue light workers make excellent foster carers
✅ The transferable skills from emergency services to fostering
✅ Real challenges foster carers face (and how to handle them)
✅ The support systems available to new foster carers
✅ How becoming a father changed Callum's career perspective

Whether you're a serving police officer, firefighter, paramedic, or simply curious about fostering, this conversation reveals how your existing skills could make a real difference in a child's life.

If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.

If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk

You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube

Send a text

Meet Casey, a Family Support Worker at the National Fostering Group who's walking the walk—not just talking it. From volunteering in Indian orphanages at 19 to adopting two boys and now supporting foster families daily, Casey brings lived experience to everything she does.

In this episode, Casey shares:
✨ Her unexpected journey from world traveler to adoptive parent
💪 How cold water swimming helps her stay strong for vulnerable youth
🎮 Creative ways to have difficult conversations through games
🏔️ Empowering programs like Jamie's Farm and Duke of Edinburgh
🌊 Why finding your outlet matters when supporting others

"You can't pour from an empty glass" isn't just a saying for Casey—it's a daily practice.

Thinking about fostering? Casey's advice: Don't rule yourself out. The skills can be learned, but the heart? That's what matters.

If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.

If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk

You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube

Send us Fan Mail

Meet Scott, a foster carer from Kent who has dedicated 20 years to transforming the lives of children with complex needs. Since 2005, Scott and his wife Haley have fostered 13 children, specializing in long-term placements for neurodiverse young people.

In this inspiring conversation, Scott shares:

✨ How fostering has evolved from 2005 to 2026, with therapeutic practices replacing outdated approaches
📚 The reality of raising foster children alongside his own family — and teaching for six GCSEs along the way
🎓 A powerful story of advocacy: helping a child move from special needs school to mainstream education, leading to a successful apprenticeship
💡 His biggest lesson: the power of patience and not rushing to judgment
🏃‍♂️ How running marathons worldwide (including all six major marathons) has enriched his fostering journey — even taking a foster son to Tokyo

Scott's message is clear: fostering is a lifestyle choice that requires kindness, patience, and a willingness to see beyond the labels that follow vulnerable children. The child you see today isn't always the one written down in reports.

If you're considering fostering or want to understand the profound impact it can have, this episode is a must-watch

If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.

If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk

You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube

Send us Fan Mail

In this heartwarming episode, we sit down with Erin, who shares her unique perspective on fostering as a sibling. At 20 years old, Erin opens up about what it was like when her mum became a foster carer and how welcoming an 11-year-old foster brother transformed their family dynamic.

Erin shares honest insights about the initial nerves, the approval process, and the beautiful moments that come with expanding your family through fostering. From cinema trips to welcoming six cats into the household, this conversation reveals how fostering doesn't just change one life—it enriches an entire family.

Whether you're considering fostering or simply curious about the experience, Erin's story offers an inspiring look at the meaningful impact fostering can have on everyone involved.

If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.

If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk

You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube

Send us Fan Mail

When John heard a radio advert asking for foster carers on his drive home from work, he never imagined how much it would transform his life. After 40 years as a sheet metal worker and with three grown daughters who'd flown the nest, John and his wife Victoria decided to fill their empty home with love, laughter, and children who needed them most.

John's story proves that fostering isn't just about changing children's lives—it's about discovering purpose, building connections, and creating a bigger family than you ever imagined.

If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.

If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk

You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube

Send us Fan Mail

In this eye-opening episode of Voices of Fostering, we sit down with Victoria, a Senior Creative Care Solutions Practitioner who leads the Bridge to Foster program at National Fostering Group. With over 20 years of social work experience, Victoria is on a mission to help young people transition from residential homes into loving foster families.

Victoria breaks down common misconceptions about children in residential care and explains why many of them are only there due to a shortage of foster carers —not because of complex behaviors. She shares the profound impact of having consistent, loving adults who show up at every sports day, celebrate every milestone, and provide a place to call home even after turning 18.

If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.

If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk

You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube

Send us Fan Mail

In this heartfelt episode of Voices of Fostering, Mark shares his incredible 13-year journey as a foster carer—from an unexpected spiritual calling to the everyday moments that make it all worthwhile.

Mark's story is a powerful reminder that fostering isn't just about changing children's lives—it transforms foster carers too. From supporting kids through trauma to celebrating their successes as adults, Mark proves that love, advocacy, and a warm home can make all the difference.

If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.

If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk

You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube

Send us Fan Mail

Did you know that 97-99% of young people who do the Duke of Edinburgh's Award access it through school? But what about children in care who may move schools, change placements, or simply don't feel it's for them in a traditional setting?

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with John, who heads up DofE expeditions at National Fostering Group. With 30 years of experience in outdoor education, John shares how NFG's partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award is creating life-changing opportunities for young people in foster care—and their foster families' birth children too.

Whether you're a foster carer, work with young people, or simply want to understand how programs like DofE can change lives, this conversation will inspire you.

If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here.

If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk

You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube