Consistently Outstanding since 2013

Introducing Fostering People’s Buddy Scheme

Christmas is all about giving and bringing people together, so this festive season we’re highlighting the fantastic work of our foster parents who volunteer their time, energy and experience to support new foster parents through our Buddy Scheme.

December 11 2024 - 4 min read

Buddy Scheme

Bringing foster families together

Here at Fostering People, we want to ensure that our new foster parents are never alone while navigating the highs and lows of the assessment process and day-to-day life. That’s why we’ve designed a fantastic scheme which pairs people going through the fostering assessment process with an experienced foster parent in their area.

These fantastic volunteers, known as ‘Buddies,’ are a great source of advice for new comers to fostering, offering support, guidance and a listening ear. Buddies offer support in a variety of ways, including over the phone, at in-person meetups, and at social events run by Fostering People. Buddies will work alongside a new applicant until they’re confident in their new role as a foster parent, and the friendships built during this crucial phase can last a lifetime.

Finding the right Buddy for you

During your fostering assessment process, you’ll have the opportunity to be matched with a buddy who’ll be a great fit for you during the first few weeks of your assessment. We carefully match buddies based on a range of qualities including personality, location and things you may have in common.

For example, if you’re a single applicant, we might match you with a single foster parent whose experiences in fostering may be similar to what you’ll encounter. If you’re fostering as an LGBTQIA+ couple, we might match you with a foster parent who has lived experience of fostering as a queer person.

Guidance and reassurance

We sat down with Oliver Kirkland, who has been the Registered Manager for Fostering People for the past 6 years, to find out just what it is that makes the Buddy Scheme so special.

“We endeavour to ‘buddy up’ all potential foster parents with an existing foster parent, because having someone available to talk to is always helpful,” Oliver said. “It’s really beneficial for new applicants to be able to touch base with someone who already fosters, to talk to about their experiences and answer any questions they might have. It helps them feel a part of our organisation from the get go, and introduces them to the friendly community here at Fostering People.”

Having the support of a Buddy can be really beneficial to those taking their first steps to foster. Oliver said:

“When a positive rapport is established, applicants are ready to enter the world of fostering with a more rounded understanding of what the role entails, a clearer sense of what representing Fostering People means, and are better placed to provide the care that vulnerable and traumatised children need.”

A chance to grow and learn

The Buddy Scheme isn’t only helpful for new foster parents— it’s also a fantastic chance for our current foster parents to help out in the community and develop their own skills while helping newcomers to learn how to be a great foster parent.

We asked Oliver what qualities make for a great foster parent Buddy. He said:

“A buddy would usually be someone who has fostered for at least a year and who is invested in the agency, its objectives and its values. They should also be a confident communicator and empathetic to the experiences new foster parents are going through. Buddies receive lots of support from their Supervising Social Worker and from our Team Managers.”

Interested in becoming a foster parent Buddy? Talk to your Supervising Social Worker or our team to learn more about how you can support your wider community as a Buddy.

Thriving as a family

New foster parents also receive plenty of ongoing support here at Fostering People. Our support includes:

Join our community

Could you join our community as one of our fantastic foster parents? If you think fostering could be right for you and your family, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us today or learn more about what it’s like to become a foster parent.