Foster carers and professionals from Brighter Futures for Children’s independent fostering agency (IFA) in Reading marked Black History Month with a special event last week, focusing on the mental health and wellbeing of our black community through a series of presentations, workshops and activities.
The event was hosted by the only not-for-profit IFA in the Reading area, which offers short and long-term, emergency, and parent and child placements.
It included talks from Dr Evas Mbire-Chigumba, Educational Psychologist at BFfC, who shared insights from her doctoral thesis on culturally responsive practices to foster a stronger sense of belonging in children, and Amanda Mavunga, Clinical Lead for the Mental Health Support Team and CAMHS in GP Primary Care, who provided a valuable overview of available mental health services and pathways.
Later in the afternoon, there was an arts and crafts workshop for children, a delicious dinner of Ethiopian cuisine, and Julia Titus provided music.
Di Smith, Board Chair of Brighter Futures for Children, said: “Our foster carers make an enormous difference to children’s lives and create many happy moments for them, so events like this, which focus on mental health and wellbeing of these incredible individuals, are so important.
“Black History Month is a time to learn, reflect, listen and celebrate, and this event did just that for all of the foster carers and professionals who attended.”
Cllr Wendy Griffith, Lead Councillor for Children, said: “It was a pleasure to be a part of the first BFfC Black History Month event for foster carers and children looked after.
“We were shown the new ‘Fostering is Everything’ film created to recruit more foster carers, and it brings a tear to the eye. Both presentations were energising and thought-provoking, Tutu’s delicious food did not disappoint and Julia’s musical entertainment while we ate was wonderful.
“Thank you to everyone involved in the organisation of this event. It was an excellent time, and I look forward to seeing more foster parents and more speakers next year.”
Notes to editors
Photos of this event can be found attached to this email.
You can find out more about the new film, Fostering is Everything, in our latest press release.
Brighter Futures for Children has a dedicated fostering website and is part of Local Authority Fostering South East, a hub bringing together 20 councils across the region, with a shared goal of recruiting and supporting foster carers.