What Sets Sunbeam Apart

Dear All, As we reach the end of Foster Care Fortnight 2025, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone that participated, including foster carers, foster children, staff and everyone else who provided content and photos. Your efforts have helped raise awareness about the importance of fostering and the need for foster carers. As you may be aware there are nearly 75,000 children living with almost 55,000 foster families. The fostering Network estimates that a further 6,500 foster families are needed in the next 12 months alone, to ensure all fostered children can live with the right family for them. Let’s keep the momentum going by reminding others of the power of fostering. Becoming a foster carer can truly transform a child’s life, offering love, care, and stability. Sunbeam Fostering is proud to be one of the UK’s largest and most progressive independent fostering agencies, with 11 offices and resource centres offering local support to all our carers. Fostering is a life-changing journey, and we’re here to guide you at every step of the way. At Sunbeam, we are always here to support you.  If you are satisfied, please talk about us and if we can do better, please talk to us. If you do have any potential foster carers or people who have showed an interest to fostering, please share our details or forward their details to us. Also, if you are an approved Foster Carer with or without a placement and would like to discuss the option of becoming a foster carer at Sunbeam, please contact us now. We will not approach your current agency/Local Authority at the initial stage of your enquiry. However, should you progress with your application we will follow The Fostering Network Transfer Protocol and request. At Sunbeam, we are always here to support you.  We always believe and remind if you are satisfied, please talk about us and if we can do better, please talk to us. We also have a referral scheme. If you know anyone interested to become a foster carer, or if someone is already approved foster carer and want to join Sunbeam Family, please refer us and we will pay you a referral fee.   If you’re considering fostering or want to learn more about the process, our central recruitment team is here to answer your questions and help you explore whether fostering is the right path for you. Call us today on 020 8799 0930 to start the conversation or email us on recruitments@sunbeamfostering.com Thank you once again for your contributions during Foster Care Fortnight. Let’s continue working together to support our fostering communities and inspire more people to make a difference in a child’s life. Muhammad Iqbal Marketing & Recruitment Manager

Every morning when I walk through the doors of the Sunbeam Fostering Agency, Croydon office, I already know one thing for sure; today will be filled with new challenges, emotional highs and lows, and a little chaos. But it will also be a day where I can make a real difference in the lives of looked after children and foster families. Every day, I wear many hats that of a mentor, advocate, coordinator, and most of all, a constant source of support for our foster carers and the children they care for. My day kicks off by checking my calendar. There are Placement Planning meetings, Child Looked After Review meetings, Stability meetings, PEP meetings, Foster Carer Review meetings, Health & Safety visits, Unannounced visits, Home visits, piles of paperwork, and of course deadlines to meet. But here’s the thing; no matter how much I plan, I know things will inevitably change. The plan might be to go for a home visit, but a phone call might come in from a foster carer in distress, or a looked after child might act out, needing immediate attention. That’s the unpredictable nature of this job, and it’s exactly what makes it both challenging and rewarding because every unexpected moment is a chance to make a difference.  My every meeting, every visit and every conversation I have is an opportunity to help improve someone’s life and that’s what makes my role at Sunbeam so incredibly special. While staying on track is important, the real heart of my job is empathy. This isn’t just about ticking off tasks or managing cases; it’s about connecting with people, understanding their struggles, and offering the support they need in ways that go beyond the paperwork. When I walk into a foster home for a visit, I don’t just think about what the child needs in terms of behavioural management or emotional support on paper. I think about the child as a person. What are they feeling today? What are their fears, their hopes, and their dreams? How can I make them feel safe enough to open up? It’s the same with foster carers. Some days, they feel like they’ve got it all together like they’re managing, the young people are adjusting, and everything is smooth. Other days, they feel like they’re failing, like they’ve tried everything and nothing is working. On those tough days, I remind them they’re not alone. They’ve got a whole team of support, including me. It’s my job to offer guidance, lend an ear, and give reassurance because foster carers give so much of themselves, and they need to know they’re doing their best. At the end of each day, it’s easy to feel like I’ve just been swimming through a storm of paperwork and crisis. There are days when nothing goes according to plan, when cases seem more difficult than expected, or when progress feels like it’s crawling at a snail’s pace. But then, there are those small moments those glimmers of hope that make everything worth it. Maybe, it’s watching a foster child begin to follow the household rules and expectations for the first time. Maybe, it’s seeing a foster carer finally feel confident in her role and approach things with new energy. Or maybe it’s hearing one of my colleagues say she feels supported. These moments of progress, no matter how small are what that reminds me why I chose this career in the first place.  My every meeting, every visit and every conversation I have is an opportunity to help improve someone’s life and that’s what makes my role at Sunbeam so incredibly special. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer and would like to know about fostering, please click here or give us a call on 02087990930. Written By- Roshni Mathew (Senior Supervising Social Worker)