-

Court of Appeal hands down judgement that declared foster carers ARE workers
Foster Carers have won this case around the rights of foster carers to join and form a trade union, and to engage in collective bargaining as a result (NUPFC v Certification Officer & Ors). The judges determined that foster carers were under an employment relationship for the purpose of Article 11 the European Convention on
-

Landmark Legal Victory Opens Door to Workers Rights for UK Foster Carers
Foster care workers and IWGB members Jimmy and Christine Johnstone launched the case in 2017 after being left in fear for their lives and the life of a young person in their care. Following an initial victory, Glasgow City Council appealed the ruling. This week the Edinburgh Employment Appeal Tribunal has upheld the initial decision
-

Fostering under Covid: Pamela’s story
At the last session for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Foster Carer Workers, members shared powerful testimonies about their experience of fostering during the Covid pandemic. Here is Pamela’s. You can watch the full session here: https://www.facebook.com/IWGBfostercare/videos/250151702993861/ I have been fostering for nearly 20 years and currently have a few long term children, having
-

Fostering during Covid-19: Maude’s story
At the last session for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Foster Carer Workers, members shared powerful testimonies about their experience of fostering during the Covid pandemic. Here is Maude’s. You can watch the full session here: https://www.facebook.com/IWGBfostercare/videos/250151702993861/ My husband and I have been foster carers for more than 20 years. We have four boys
-

Alone We Are Powerless – Together We Are Unstoppable
This week we hear from a member of the Foster Care Workers Union telling us what prompted her join and why the work of the union is vital for the children in our care. Why I joined a union I’ve always loved working with young people. Doing various bits of voluntary work with children, I
-

More than just a spare room and a big heart – #ThisIsFostering
John (not his real name) is a foster carer in Scotland. With The Fostering Network’s annual 2 week “celebration of fostering” in full swing, he has written a frank account about the realities of fostering. The present crisis has highlighted the conditions that care workers work under – the phenomenal task they undertake and the
-

Urgent advice for foster carers
During these uncertain times things are changing at a rapid pace and all of us here at the Foster Care Workers Union and the IWGB are working flat out to keep up to date, to provide support and advocate for you, our members. With that in mind, we are issuing new advice and guidance on
-
Radical union expands to Northern Ireland in fight for foster carers
Delighted to have our work covered by Left Foot Forward and looking forward to expanding our campaigning and representation to support foster carers in Northern Ireland Read the EXCLUSIVE here: https://leftfootforward.org/2019/08/exclusive-radical-union-expands-to-northern-ireland-in-fight-for-foster-carers/
-
Really!!
You probably shouldn’t write blog posts when you are angry but today that is exactly what I am going to do. This morning one of our members forwarded me an email where writer had suggested that this foster carer wouldn’t need any support with the lovely but very high spirited 5 year old girl she
