About the ESFCA

The East Sussex Foster Care Association is an independent charity run by foster carers, for foster carers and their families, including ‘Children Who Foster’ and ‘Children in Care’. It was launched in March 1993 in response to the needs of the children/young people in public care across the County and the demands this placed on their Foster families. Since its introduction, volunteers have developed a range of support, advice, advocacy, activities and training services for their fellow carers, families and the Children in Care throughout East Sussex.

Approximately 600 children are in care in East Sussex at any one time, with ages ranging from birth to 18 years old. The majority of these children have come into care having experienced some form of abuse. A significant number have been physically or sexually abused, others have experienced birth parents struggling with alcohol and drug abuse. Many have suffered severe neglect or witnessed extreme domestic violence. We are keen to show these vulnerable children and young people, that by offering help, support, guidance and education we can work together in building brighter futures.

           Meet the ESFCA Team

The aim of the association is to:

• Listen to you – Your concerns and worries, ideas or problems or if you just want a chat or a sympathetic ear;
• Care and Act for you – Support you, help you, advise you and to represent you, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, if that’s what you want;
• Promote your worth, knowledge, expertise and professionalism ;
• Act for you in partnership with other carers, East Sussex County Council, Independent Advisors, the Fostering Network and other fostering organisations.

• Complaints or allegations made about you.
• Communication difficulties with Social Workers.
• If you feel you are not being listened to.
• Coping with difficult behaviours.
• Representation at Meetings.

We offer advice and guidance, training and support for new and existing carers and can act as an advocate for you for any disagreement you may have with Social Services with regards to your work as a foster carer. We host numerous activities and events for carers and their own children as well as their looked after children. We work tirelessly alongside East Sussex County Council to ensure that we are the Voice of East Sussex Foster Carers and that Social Services listen to us, and the experiences that we all face on a day to day basis with the aim of improving the support they provide and the training they give to Social Workers. It is this partnership that helps East Sussex be recognised as one of the best providers of Foster Care in the country.
 

You can help us

We are currently looking to expand the ESFCA and are looking for forward thinking and child focussed Trustee and Committee Members.

If you are interested in joining us on the committee, a few things you may want to consider

• We hold a committee meeting on the second monday of each month usually in Hailsham
• You need a good sense of humour
• Be able to push projects forward and see them through to the end
• Be prepared to dedicate some of your spare time to helping the children of East Sussex

In addition to the above, to join us as a Trustee, you must be prepared to commit yourself in a legal perspective as well

 Some of the things we do as a charity

Residential trips for Children in Care

ESFCA received funding from Children in Need to organise 2 residential trips for children in care. We take an average of 30 children per residentials and the aims are:-

• To build Children in Care's self esteem
• To give them an opportunity to take part in many new sporting activities
• To meet other children in care who share the same experience of being in care
• To make new and supporting relationships with their peers
• To build trusting relationships with adults including social workers and foster carers.
• To experience team building activities
• To have good fun and have some positive childhood memories.
• These residential are 100% free for the children and social workers and foster carers give up their spare time to support these vulnerable.
• The children take part in many activities including Giant swing, canoeing, archery, BMX biking, Quad bikes, abseiling and Zip wire.
• At the end of the residentials all the children receive a certificate, medal and a camera filled with lots of photos of their experience.

 Residential trips for Children who Foster

ESFCA runs an annual 3 day residential trip to say Thank you to all our Children who Foster. These children (foster carers own children) often do the ‘bread and butter’ work within fostering. They share their homes, families and toys with Children in Care and this is often unrecognised by many.

These children provide the role models for our Children in Care and sometimes they have to deal with some very difficult situations with very little support.

We are always delighted that East Sussex Fostering Team fully support this project and the Placement Support Workers are encouraged to come along and support this project. It is our way of saying THANK YOU for everything they do to support their families in the world of fostering.