Havering Council has launched an exciting new project which will see foster carers working together to develop a strong family network.
The new scheme, known as the Mockingbird Project, was initially developed by the Fostering Network and is made up of a group of Havering Council foster carers, special guardians (usually a family member caring for a child) and connected carers (a family member or someone they know well who fosters a child).
The aim of the project is to improve stability for all the children and to provide a community environment for all the adults and children involved.
Havering’s first Mockingbird group is called Ohana which means ‘family’ in Hawaiian.
Councillor Oscar Ford, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, who attended the project’s launch this week, said:
“It was a pleasure to meet some of the foster carers and children at the launch.
“This is an innovative scheme which will bring massive changes to the way that foster carers are supported.
"They will work together in a fostering community and have a whole network of people they have built relationships with to tap into for support.
“The group will meet up regularly, with all the children taking part in various activities to build supportive relationships.
"There will also be regular coffee mornings for the carers, giving them an opportunity to talk and discuss any problems.
“We hope that more networks will develop as a result of this one.”
Deborah Young is an experienced foster carer and will be the Hub Carer who will lead a group of up to 10 households.
She will offer sleepovers to fostered children, if needed, giving the foster carer a break. She will also provide advice and support and help the group to build their relationships.
Deborah said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to support foster carers to continue to do the amazing job they do.
"It is a multi-layered support system whereby everyone involved comes together like an extended family to help and care for each other.
"There is a monthly activity for the children and a monthly activity for the carers.
“It is such a wonderful thing to be a part of a project which has been so successful in other parts of the UK.”
Anyone interested in fostering can find out more by visiting the fostering webpage below.