Pubished: 10 June 2025
On Tuesday 13 May, the Surrey Fostering Service brought together foster carers, council staff, and community members for a celebratory lunch to honour the invaluable contributions of foster carers in Surrey and to launch its updated Foster Carers’ Charter.
Taking place during Foster Care Fortnight, the event recognised the power of relationships and the profound impact of strong, supportive connections between foster carers and the children and young people they support. In attendance and witnessing the signing of the Charter was the Leader of Surrey County Council, Tim Oliver, the Chair of the Council, Saj Hussain, and the High Sheriff of Surrey, Peter Cluff.
Created in partnership with Surrey foster carers and the former Surrey County Fostering Association, the Foster Carers’ Charter is a set of joint principles outlining how the Council, the fostering service, and foster carers work together to continuously deliver the best foster care for Surrey children. Included in the Charter is a shared commitment to build relationships based on trust and respect, to open communication and partnership, and to create a collaborative and supportive environment at all times for the benefit of Surrey children.
Specific reference is made in the Charter to the comprehensive support in place to equip carers for undertaking the role. Delivered by the Council, this includes high quality training programs, advice and resources, and the opportunity to join a Mockingbird Hub. The Mockingbird Hub programme aims to strengthen fostering households and improve relationships between carers, children and young people, fostering services, and birth families, by forming networks with up to ten fostering families, known as ‘constellations’. These constellations provide mutual support and guidance and offer a sense of community and encouragement to carers.
During his attendance at the Fostering Care Fortnight celebrations, Peter Cluff, High Sheriff of Surrey, said: “As someone who counts foster carers among my friends, I must say that their work is truly remarkable. It is an endeavour that profoundly changes lives, bringing about transformation in the most meaningful of ways.”
The Council would welcome more Surrey foster carers to provide safe, nurturing homes where children and young people can grow and thrive. To learn more about fostering for Surrey, visit Fostering – Surrey County Council or join a fostering information session: Fostering information events – Surrey County Council.
Clare Curran, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning said: “When receiving our ‘Good’ grading following the recent Ofsted Inspecting Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) inspection of Surrey’s Children’s Services, it was wonderful to hear from inspectors that foster carers had spoken about feeling ‘valued as part of professional networks and the team around children in their care’.
“The launch of our newly updated Foster Carers’ Charter is a part of our continued commitment to making foster carers feel valued, and to support and build strong working relationships with them, so that together we can deliver the very best for Surrey children in foster care.
“I am immensely grateful to our foster carers for the encouragement, compassion, and dedication they provide to the children and young people in their care, giving them the opportunity to grow and flourish in a stable environment.”
Reflecting on the value of the Foster Carer’s Charter, Tina Benjamin, Director of Corporate Parenting, said: “The Foster Carers’ Charter is a clear reflection of the value we place on foster care and all those involved in delivering it in the absolute best way for Surrey children. We recognise the professionalism of foster carers and thank them, and members of the former Surrey County Fostering Association, for their contributions to refreshing and agreeing the Charter.”
About Foster Care Fortnight
This year’s Foster Care Fortnight theme from The Fostering Network charity, ‘The Power of Relationships’, celebrates the meaningful connections foster carers make with the children and young people in their care. Throughout the fortnight, voices from across the fostering community are sharing stories of how fostering can transform lives, and make a difference every day – from the bond between a foster carer and a child, to the vital support of social workers, friendships within the fostering community, and connections with birth families. These relationships shape lives, create stability, and open new possibilities for the future.
Notes:
The Surrey Foster Carer’s Charter can be read in full on the Surrey Foster Carers’ Charter webpage.
Those wanting to find out more about fostering in Surrey should visit the Surrey County Council Fostering Service webpages: Why foster with us? – Surrey County Council.
Email: fostering.recruitment@surreycc.gov.uk
Tel: 0300 4709100
Instagram: SCC Fostering Service (@surreyfostering)
Facebook: @surreyfostering | Facebook
For information on upcoming Surrey Fostering Service events: Fostering information events – Surrey County Council
For more information on the Mockingbird Hub programme - a Fostering Network initiative.
In 2024, Surrey County Council joined a partnership of over 100 local authorities and children’s trusts to produce ‘Everything’, a short film dedicated to promoting local authority fostering: Everything – A Fostering Film (2024) – YouTube.
The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity and membership organisation. Foster Care Fortnight is a yearly, national awareness event coordinated by the charity to raise awareness of fostering and foster care: Foster Care Fortnight | The Fostering Network
The celebration event on 13 May was held at Woodhatch Place, Reigate and included a raffle, supported by the High Sheriff, with generous donations from local businesses, including Denbies Wine Estate, Nutfield Priory Hotel and Spa, Plans with Purpose, Dogfest at Loseley Park and Woodlands Park Hotel. Surrey County Council extends its heartfelt thanks to all of the sponsors and donors who made the event possible.