Conversation & discussion on contemporary Adoption & Fostering
Episodes
Sep 17, 2022
Sep 17, 2022
44 min
We recorded this episode in Ireland, and planned to release it prior to the death of Queen Elizabeth.
Al had popped over to help with the opening of the FASD Ireland offices and we took the chance to record together. There's been a lot of change in the landscape around adoption and we reflect on where we are and where we're going. Do we remain a safe place for adopted adults to share their views and experiences and is a podcast hosted by two adopters the right place for that? These are few of the questions that we're asking of ourselves as we look to the future of the podcast. As always, there's plenty of banter and we reflect on the catastrophe which was Al's summer holiday and the usual stuff.
We've opened up sales for the conference on the 25th Movement. We will consider the challenges and barriers to maintaining positive, safe and meaningful links with birth family members.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Sep 10, 2022
Sep 10, 2022
14 min
We did have a normal episode recorded and lined up but in light of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II we thought we'd throw out a few thoughts, a story and keep it brief. RIP
Sep 3, 2022
Sep 3, 2022
41 min
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode we speak to Michelle Nattrass she is a special guardian to her grandson and a PHD researcher at Leeds Trinity University looking at family contact in kinship and guardianship arrangements.
Michelle shares her personal story, the circumstances that led to her and her partner becoming a special guardian as well as offering insight into the challenges that are present in the wider community. Michelle is honest and frank in relation to her experience and shines a light on many families experiences.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Aug 27, 2022
Aug 27, 2022
53 min
In this episode we sift through the brick-a-brack of talking points and news updates that have been loitering in the back of the podcast shared note. We start with the giddy, heartbreaking, joy of children moving out as Al confesses to feeling rather glum. Then onto some talking points including, consensual non monogamy, Northern Pride, social work assessments and the ASLGB away day.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Aug 20, 2022
Aug 20, 2022
1hr 22 min
This week Scott and Al are a summer holiday! Not together thank heavens but this is an interview with Mark Owers that was recorded a few weeks ago. Mark is an adoptive parent as well as a social worker and consultant to the DfE and the Government in relation to adoption and fostering and the Chair of the National Adoption Recruitment Steering Group. He is able to bring an in depth knowledge to the policy context, how we got to where we are and consider the future of adoption. We also discuss the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board and Mark's recent article here.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Aug 13, 2022
Aug 13, 2022
1hr 1 sec
In this episode we are more than happy to have Becky back onto the podcast. As you'll hear Becky has an encyclopaedic knowledge of AUK's 2022 Adoption Barometer and she unpicks some of the data and we have a good natter.
As you'd expect we do occasionally get drawn into a broad range of issues including decorating children's bedrooms, women's football and the joy of pies.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Aug 6, 2022
Aug 6, 2022
1hr 6 min
In this episode we speak to Liz Harvie adopted adult and adoptee rights campaigner. We'd been planning to speak to Liz for quite a while and the interview conincided with the release of the House of Commons & House of Lords Joint Committee on Human Rights -The Violation of Family Life: Adoption of Children of Unmarried Women 1949–1976 report. Liz was generous with her time and story shared some of her own experience and the impact of being adopted and reunion on her, liz spoke across a broad range of issues including the report and we're sure you'll agree she was a great guest.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Jul 30, 2022
Jul 30, 2022
50 min
Hello and welcome to conversations from the adoption and fostering podcast.
In this episode Scott spoke to late discovery, transracial and translation adoptee Ryan, he shares his complicated and challenging experience of finding out he was adopted at 18 years old.
Ryan talks about living his shame and avoiding dealing with his adoption until the last few years and his journey looking for support as an adult. Ryan is open an honest in discussing the complexities of his situation and the lack of information he has of his biological family from Morocco.
You can see Ryan's YouTube video here
https://youtu.be/4C-LNcmxdFk
And his Written story here https://peshy37.wordpress.com/2021/02/18/my-story/
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Jul 23, 2022
Jul 23, 2022
59 min
In this episode we speak to adoptive parent and Executive Headteacher Rob Leitch about his campaign to "Provide all care-experienced children with a right to be assessed for an EHCP"
This petition calls for all care-experienced children to be provided with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessment as an automatic right, upon request. This would provide all care-experienced children with an equality of opportunity, following a disadvantaged start in life.
You can add your signature here
Rob is a great guest and he shares some of his experience as an adoptive parent as well as his views on the challenges of education and the unique education model in the online school he is the headteacher at.
As always if you’ve experience of adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
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Jul 9, 2022
Jul 9, 2022
1hr 8 min
Hello and welcome to this episode of the adoption and fostering podcast. Catching up on recent news and to discuss the challenges faced by Voluntary Adoption Agencies we are pleased to have Satwinder Sandhu vice chair of the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies and CEO of the IAC join us. We unpick the impact of Families for Children closing as well as the current system and how they work with the Regional Adoption Agencies. We also consider the recent government madness and the impact on the Care Review.
As always if you’ve experience of or informed views on adoption, Fostering or special guardianship from any perspective and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook or twitter page or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com
We like real live connections so if you want to get in touch do so yourself.
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