Hounslow Council will be marking Foster Care Fortnight (#FcF25, May 12-25) by celebrating the relationships that bond its fostering community together.
Published: Friday, 9th May 2025
The fostering team will be hosting at least one community stall a day across the borough between Monday 12 May and Monday 26 May, where those curious about fostering and becoming a carer can find out more about changing a young person’s life.
In line with the theme, The Power of Relationships, our fostering family have also spoken about what relationships matter most to them.
Among them was Eithne Bhui, the ‘Hub Carer’ within Hounslow’s Mockingbird constellation, a simple scheme where a group of fostering families build relationships with each other. She said: “Often, children in care are not allowed to have sleepovers for instance, so the eight families in my constellation can come together in my home and get to do activities, enjoy social events like coffee mornings and meet to go out to the local park with the children so they can start to get to know each other.”
Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills, and Employment at Hounslow Council, commented: “When I talk to foster carers in Hounslow it’s clear they benefit from feeling part of a larger supportive community. Our Mockingbird constellation epitomises that sense of belonging, acts to provide the children with a priceless sense of extended family and helps to share best practise. I’d urge anyone thinking about fostering to find out more and speak to us about what it can offer you.”
Foster Carers in Hounslow are also benefitting from an improved allowance and support package that has risen 44% across the board and is higher for carers of children with complex needs. Hounslow’s foster carers can now earn from £474 to £899 a week depending on the needs of the child(ren). This includes the fostering allowance for each foster child, which covers their day-to-day care and a professional fee, serving as an income payment for their efforts.
To read more of about the important relationships within our fostering family head to: Foster Care Fortnight | London Borough of Hounslow
