ISP Sponsor Award that Recognises Fostering Friendly Employers
ISP supports the Fostering Friendly: Employer of the Year Award at the 2015 Fostering Excellence Awards. This prestigious event has recognised the commitment, dedication, and skill of the whole fostering community, and it goes a long way to highlighting the positive work of foster carers right across the UK
On Tuesday 17th November, Shop Direct, MTS Cleansing Services Ltd and The Royal Mail’s Llandysul sorting office took home the titles of ‘Fostering Friendly: Employer of the Year’ at the 2015 Fostering Excellence Awards, which was hosted by Holly Willoughby and attended by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.
Put on by the UK’s leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network, the annual awards programme recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements in UK foster care. The ‘Fostering Friendly: Employer of the Year’ award acknowledges employers that have supported foster carers in their employment, and, this year, we had the honour of sponsoring the award!
Here’s what our CEO, Elaine Young, had to say: “We are delighted to support the Fostering Network and their wonderful awards program, which showcases the incredible work of the UK’s fostering community. In particular, we are proud to have sponsored this year’s ‘Employer of the Year Award’, The Fostering Friendly employer’s scheme, which underpins this award, encourages employers to support and to recognise the roles of their valued employees who foster and look after vulnerable children and young people. We congratulate Shop Direct, MTS Cleaning Services and The Royal Mail’s Llandysul sorting office as winners of this year’s award. I am sure they will continue to be a great advocate for the scheme.”
Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, also said: “We are proud to have ISP supporting the Fostering Friendly: Employer of the Year Award at the 2015 Fostering Excellence Awards. This prestigious event has recognised the commitment, dedication, and skill of the whole fostering community, and it goes a long way to highlighting the positive work of foster carers right across the UK. Without the support of ISP we would not have been able to recognise the businesses and organisations that recognise that foster carers can provide real value to the community, and their workplace, when given the opportunity.”
The foster carer who nominated Shop Direct said: “Shop Direct is a massive organisation and yet they have succeeded at offering a personal, tailored package of support to us as foster carers and as Special Guardians. We believe that we could not have continued our fostering career without their support and understanding.”
The foster carer who nominated MTS said: “It would be nearly impossible to be there when my little boy needed me, or to do my training without all the support and understanding my company have offered me over the last four years. On many occasions I have received an emergency phone call and had to drop everything and this company is totally understanding.”
The foster carer who nominated Llandysul sorting office, Royal Mail, said: “Working for Royal Mail allows me to be at home when the children get home from school because they all have their own stories to tell. It also gives me quality time with them in the holidays which as a mum and foster carer is so important to me. I am able to phone up whenever I have had issues with the children in the past and deal with it so long as I go back and continue with my deliveries afterwards.”
Click here to see some interesting facts and figures around fostering and employers:
There are many emotional, social and economic benefits to becoming a foster carer, some of which we have listed below:
- Making a difference to a child’s life
- Experiencing a sense of achievement from helping others
- Enjoying having children in your life
- Gaining satisfaction from helping a child learn and develop
- Having an opportunity to use your parenting or life skills
- Helping your own family learn to share and care for others
- Taking on a fresh challenge, whatever your age
When you join ISP, you’ll receive a weekly fostering allowance when a young person is placed with you – from £438 - £579 per week, depending on your experience and area.
If you’d like to learn more about how to become a foster carer and the therapeutic fostering services we provide to children, enquire online today or speak to our team on 0800 0857989.
