8 December 2016

 Mayor joins Bromley foster agency to celebrate 25 years of caring

 Bromley-based Kindercare, part of the National Fostering Agency Group, has celebrated 25 years of caring with a visit from the Mayor of Bromley, Councillor Kim Botting.

The celebrations, held at the agency's new offices in Masons Hill, featured a large display of memorabilia from across the 25 years, from a children's residential guide of around 1990 to a newspaper cutting of one of the social workers taking part in a skydive with a flag displaying Kindercare.

Kindercare was one of the first independent fostering agencies to be formed in 1990. Since then the agency has developed close working relationships across the London area and has had fantastic outcomes, having helped more than 4,000 children and young people during that period.

One carer, Beverley Baker, has been a foster carer with Kindercare for 23 years. Beverly was joined at the celebrations by one of her foster children Sara, who thanked her for making her the person she is today and has now graduated from university with a degree in social work.

Also at the event were the founders of Kindercare, Stan and Janette Decker, together with one of their daughters, Jenny Kelly, who still works for the organisation.

Iain Anderson, NFA Group Chief Executive, said: "This is all testament to the early vision of Stan and Jan in wanting to make a real difference to Bromley's looked after children and young people, a tradition and aspiration, that as group chief executive of NFA I am committed to ensure continues into the future.

"Supporting the carers is a staff team here of well trained and committed professionals. From those involved in supporting the agency to the front line social workers, they all have a consistent focus on the children and young people in their care."

The mayor, Councillor Kim Botting, said: "Kindercare works in partnership with local authorities and fostering agencies to find the best caring solutions for children and young people. I am delighted to meet many of the staff and many of the amazing foster carers.

"I am impressed by the professionalism of all the staff and the commitment and compassion displayed. I can see the challenges that face foster carers and all the staff involved when dealing with the placements and fostering of those children and young people."

ENDS

Picture Caption: (Left to right) Kindercare Bromley Manager, Doreen Beason, Mayor, Kim Botting, and foster carer Beverley Baker.

 Note to editors:

• National Fostering Agency Group: NFA Group, established since 1996, provides professional fostering services to local authorities throughout the United Kingdom to make a real difference to the quality of life to those vulnerable children and young people it supports.

• www.nfa.co.uk

For further information:                

Alan Rustad

AR Communications

alan@ar-comms.com

Tel: 0844 585 5959/07976 722726

Andrew Isaac, Group Marketing & Communications Director

National Fostering Agency Group

aisaac@nfa.co.uk
Tel: 01895 200300