New North London Fostering Hub Launched to Support Children and Carers
Regional initiative involving six London boroughs aims to recruit more foster carers and enhance support services for children in care.
By Priya Shah
••3 min read
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Generic image of a diverse group of people attending a meeting in a modern community centre.
The North London Fostering Hub, a collaborative initiative led by Camden Council involving Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, and Islington councils, has been launched to recruit, support, and retain foster carers across the region.
Part of the Government's national fostering reform programme, the Hub aims to simplify the process for individuals interested in fostering, providing access to support throughout the application and offering ongoing training and guidance for new foster carers.
This week, Camden hosted the first national gathering of Regional Fostering Hubs, welcoming representatives from hubs across England and the Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister. The event facilitated shared learning, best practice discussions, and strategies for strengthening fostering services through regional partnerships.
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"Helping children grow up in safe, stable and loving homes is one of the most important responsibilities we have. The North London Fostering Hub will bring together expertise from six councils to attract more people to fostering, strengthen support for our existing foster carers and build on the excellent work already under way in our communities to increase foster care provision that reflects the diversity of our children. By working together across borough boundaries, we can give more local children the stability, care and opportunities they need to thrive, by providing increased access to great quality foster care."
Children's Minister, Josh MacAlister, highlighted the transformative impact of fostering, stating, "Fostering changes lives, not just for the children who finally get the stability and love every child deserves, but for the carers themselves, who tell us it's one of the most rewarding things they've ever done. Right now, thousands of children need that chance, and that’s exactly what our national campaign is about: cracking fostering open to ordinary people across England who have the values, the commitment, and the love to foster."
The six boroughs aim to attract a diverse range of foster carers, ensuring more children can remain connected to their schools, families, and communities. This initiative builds on over a decade of collaboration through the North London Fostering and Permanency Consortium.
Misconceptions about who can foster and how it fits into daily life persist, with 43% believing it's incompatible with full-time work and 30% thinking prior childcare experience is essential.
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"Being a foster parent keeps me active and gives me energy, and I cannot imagine doing anything more rewarding. I know that I am able to give the children I look after a calm, safe and loving home and they bring the heart into my family. Fostering is not an isolated role - the children I look after have me, but they are very much part of my larger extended family. I also have the support of a professional group of people, but importantly, a wide network of other foster parents working together. I would like to encourage people to consider fostering as there are lots of children in North London who need the safety and security but need to stay in the community in which they are familiar. It is about finding the right match and recognising that fostering can fit alongside different careers and lifestyles."
Camden Council, as the lead authority, is instrumental in shaping the regional model and supporting the government's goal to enhance fostering services nationwide. The national gathering provided a platform to discuss progress and collaborative strategies.
The North London Fostering Hub encourages individuals from all backgrounds to explore fostering and discover the difference they can make. More information is available at www.fosternorthlondon.gov.uk or by calling 020 7974 0125.
