It's been a busy old summer. In this episode we catch up with family changes, business changes and generally updates from the two. It's been a busy summer for everyone but now we're at the new term we're thinking ahead. Scott shares some updates with FASD Ireland and Al in relation to the Churchill Fellowship. We asked Fiona Wells to come and share…

Scott and Al are having a week off! both taking a pause after a busy year and before a busy autumn. So, rather than do nothing we're re releasing a cracking episode from last year that is well worth a revisit. In this episode we speak to NHS historian Dr Michael Lambert. He has looked at the historic evidence of Government policy to promote and fac…

Hello and welcome to this episode of the Adoption and Fostering Podcast. This episode is halfway between a conversation and a normal episode. I had the opportunity to speak to Bethan Pell Doctoral Researcher at Cardiff University. She’s looking Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA) in the context of Wales. It’s a fascinating stu…

Hello and welcome to the A&F Podcast. In this episode we speak to Lauren Seager-Smith CEO of The For Baby's Sake Trust charity working UK-wide to break the cycle of domestic abuse and empower parents to give their babies the best start in life. For many children in the care system or previously in the care system domestic abuse has been a part of t…

Hello and welcome to this episode of the Better Me Better Us Podcast with Vicki and Hayley. In this months episode we talk about vulnerability. What does it mean to you? Is it a weakness or a sign of strength? Connect with them - Instagram- BMBUltd Facebook – Better Me Better Us Twitter – BMBUltd Email – info@bettermebetterus.co.uk…

Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network. In this episode I speak to Susie James and adult adoptee and a solo adoptive parents. She shares her experience of growing up adopted and navigating reunion with her birth mother as a young woman. Susie is now embarking on a PhD looking at post adoption support for solo adopters inspired by h…

In this webcast Al speaks to Fiona Wells founder of Patch and author of 2023's Adoption Crisis report. We're chatting about the report and what conversations it's started as well as the upcoming 'safeguarding in Adoption' online conference planned for the 24th September. It's free and you can book a place here. As always if you’ve experience of ado…

Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network. In this episode I speak to Marie a German Foster Carer. She got in touch to offer some insight to the German system and how fostering is viewed and arranged there. It’s a fascinating subject with that highlights as many differences as there are similarities. We’d love to hear from any other c…

Hello and welcome to the A&F Podcast. In this episode we speak to the CEO of The Fostering Network. It feels like we only scratched the surface of the issues facing fostering at the moment but Sarah speak with experience and insight that is really thoughtful but also hopeful. We unpick a little around the State of the Nation report as well as consi…

Hello and welcome to Conversations from the the A&F Network. In this episode I speak to cousins Wendy and Azumah, they are both adoptive parents. Even through they live in different countries they have provided mutual support to each other in their individual and contrasting experiences of adoption. It’s an interesting listen and I’m sure you’ll fi…

Hello and welcome to this episode of the Better Me Better Us Podcast with Vicki and Hayley. In this months episode they talk about the importance of being curious with those around us. Curiosity helps us develop deeper understanding, build stronger connections, and respond to the needs of those around us with empathy and insight. Connect with them …

Hello and welcome to a Monday webcast from the A&F Network. We thought we'd do something different and unpick some stuff as we're in Podcast Towers together today! So, we talk about Facebook stalking, manifesto promises, gathering adopter views and more..... As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any pers…

We recorded this prior to the election results so there's limited election chatter. However, we do touch on it a little but more of our time is used to reflect on the recent article/blog on a court case relating to adoption revocation. The article can be read here , it is a delicate issue and we consider the implications for children, parents and f…

Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network. In this episode I speak to Kerry an adult adoptee, she lives in Kenya and runs the Footprint Family Charity. Kerry shares her experience of being adopted and the challenges of looking for her birth mother and father, the isolation of that search and experiences of reuniting with birth family.…

Hello and welcome episode 190. In this episode weave together conversation with social worker and Guardian ad litem, Dónal Traynor, about the the recently released TV programme "Lost Boys and Fairies", pride month and the recently released manifestos. We cover lots of ground and it's a conversation for adults so we've popped on an explicit rating. …

Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network. In this episode I speak to adoptive parent Andrea. She is Austrian and shares her experience of approval and adoption through their system. There are few adoptions in Austria and the culture and practice are markedly different. Andrea explains some of the unique challenges fac…

Hello and welcome to this episode of the Better Me Better Us Podcast with Vicki and Hayley. Happy Pride Month!! In this 13th episode we talk about big events for little people. As usual we go up, down and all around with the topic covering events such as exams, endings (including the end of the school term), explaining big stories and how within th…

Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network. Last year Al attended the Adoption England Conference and met James Kargbo one of the founders of Replenish Culture CIC. Their vision is to support foster carers and adopters of black and mixed children to value, promote and celebrate them, their culture and identity. On a practical level tha…

Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network. In this episode I speak to adult adoptee and birth mom to a child who was adopted Anne Peshka. Anne lives in Florida and share her story of being adopted, the experience of giving up one of her children to adoption and two stories of reunion. It’s a story that raises lots of q…

Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F Network. Well, just before we pressed record an election was announced in the UK in what was pretty poor timing for Adoption UK and their Barometer. We unpick both things and consider the impact of a change of government on the landscape as well as reflect on the release of the Barometer and the findi…

Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network. In this episode I speak Adoptive parent Matt, he shares his experience, with his partner, of adoption. It was a complicated and challenging path having to change agency mid assessment. They are now parents and Matt is open and honest thoughout this interview. As always if you’…

Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast. In this episode we welcome Professor Laura Machin from the Lancaster University. She is an an adult adoptee, adopter and academic and has set up Adopters Advocacy who seek to "highlight the voices and needs of adopters during the adoption process and after a child has been placed, without diminishing the import…

Hello and welcome to this episode of the Better Me Better Us Podcast with Vicki and Hayley. It’s the start of GCSE exams so we talk about how to support our children and young people through this difficult time. We also highlight Foster Carers week and the amazing work that they do every month not just in May. Connect with us - Instagram- BMBUltd F…

Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network. In this episode I catch up with Kinship carer and researcher Michelle Hall, she is looking at the issue of contact between kinship carers and birth parents for her PhD. Michelle highlights the ongoing and complex challenges that can be present and shares the experiences of tho…

We're back in the same room after a year online. Consequently, we're a little giddy but get ourselves on track and discuss the CVAA strategy update that we were attending in that London. We ask the question that many prospective adopters ask, RAA or VAA? Then we unpick adopter sufficiency, PP+, the three year rule and more. Here's a link to the new…

Hello and welcome to this edition of conversations from the A&F network. In this episode I speak to adult adoptee Julie McGue, she was adopted in the US with her twin sister and grew up in the 60s knowing she was adopted. Julie shares her story of fighting to get access to her birth records and the names of her biological parents and the support th…