Power of Parenting (POP)
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- Author:Power of Parenting
- Published:January 2023
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Power of Parenting (POP) promoting ‘Life as It Should Be’ for Foster Children.
Power of Parenting Children’s Charity aims to create ‘Life As It Should Be’ for Foster Children, endeavouring to provide them with the same opportunities, both educational and sporting, as those children who have not been in care experience.
Who Are Power of Parenting (POP)
Power of Parenting was established by Paul and Samantha Adams in 2016. Paul retired early from the Met Police and Samantha was able to find a little more time in her role as a career mother to our four children. We resolved to try to make a difference for local Looked After Children (Foster Children).
So with this in mind and with the support of all our own children, who were to play an active part in fostering, we trained to become Foster Carers for Bracknell Forest Council, becoming fully certified in 2012.
We genuinely feel that we have made a difference in several young lives. Over 10 years, 17 young people have passed through our home. It is this that we find so fulfilling and rewarding. We want to spread the word in the hope that others may get involved and give their support.
There is a desperate shortage of Foster Families to support children in care who need new homes, both temporarily and in some cases more permanently. The result of greater support and more foster carers would make such a difference to so many young lives.
Four years on, POP has achieved so much more than both he and Sam could ever have hoped. A much-expanded Board of Trustees has been brought together to grow the organisation and allow Power of Parenting (POP) to take the next steps. see the full list of Trustee’s here
Power of Parenting and What They Do
Power of Parenting promotes “Life As It Should Be” for Looked After Children (foster children).
Power of Parenting believes in equal opportunity for all children and recognises the invaluable work foster families do to enable Looked After Children (Foster Children) to have normal lives filled with warmth and kindness, created in safe, loving homes. This is the “Power of Parenting” when practised for the benefit of the children with their best interests at heart.
The change in Foster Children’s confidence and self-esteem levels when they are shown consistent kindness and support is a joy to behold.
Power of Parenting was established to try to break the cycle of neglect and potentially in some cases, crime, which so many young people in care would find themselves heading towards were it not for the support of local authorities and foster families. It is a very sad fact that currently, foster children are more likely to end up in prison than to go on to higher education.
The Charity’s main objective is to provide financial and moral support to Foster Children/Looked After Children/ Children who have been adopted. We want to help them fulfil their academic and/or sporting potential in further education, giving them greater opportunity to achieve their own personal goals in later life. The ultimate aim is to support Foster Children going to University with financial bursaries.
There are many steps on that journey, however, so we also provide opportunities on the way to open Foster Children’s eyes to their own potential and the many different routes they can take in life.
Power of Parenting aims to spread the word about the joys of fostering and promote the recruitment of new foster families.
Opportunities, Opportunities, Opportunities!
Further Education is for Foster Children too, although currently, only 6% attend University, compared to the national average of nearly 50%. Power of Parenting seeks to address that disparity by providing bursaries for Foster Children.
Foster Children: Apply to Power of Parenting for financial support at Uni, FE colleges, and apprenticeships, sporting opportunities. Why not you?
Extra Tuition in Maths and English for Foster Children
So many of us need a little extra help to achieve what we want. Power of Parenting provides membership of After School tuition clubs for Foster Children who need a helping hand. Particularly now, where many children have missed out on school, thanks to the pandemic, this is proving popular.
Virtual Schools
Power of Parenting provides extra financial support for Virtual Schools. Virtual Schools act as local authority champions to promote the progress and educational attainment of children and young people who are or who have been in care so that they achieve educational outcomes comparable to their peers. Ensuring that they receive a high-quality education is the foundation for improving their lives.
Cookery Classes for Foster Children
A four-week course learning how to prepare a fine dining menu for their Foster Parents and the Mayor. Opening Foster Children’s eyes to opportunities and their own potential and building their confidence and self-esteem.
Swimming Lessons
Research has shown that children who learn to swim under the age of 5, have a significant developmental advantage over those that don’t. Many foster children still can’t swim in their teens. POP has so far taught seven young children to swim and would love to teach many more. We will pay for swimming lessons at a pool near you for up to a year.
Golf Academy for Foster Children
Participation at a local Golf Academy – Sporting opportunities that Foster Children would not otherwise be able to access.
Work Insights for Foster Children
Foster Children (or their parents) tell us what they’re interested in, we’ll try to arrange a work insight day/ programme. One young foster child is determined to become a pilot, American Airlines have very kindly allowed this young man to spend time with them to see what life as a pilot would be like.
Support with Technology for Foster Children
Recently we provided a laptop for a young man who had a particular bent for creative writing and needed a computer to maximise his potential.
Helping Foster Children transition into the Adult World.
Support for a young entrepreneur to get the website for his young business off the ground. Power of Parenting is incredibly flexible and will consider most things to support Foster Children or Care Leaving Young Adults – Talk to us!
Mental Health Support
We provide extra funds to a local counselling service so that Foster Children can get the support they need in a more timely manner.
Food in Care Courses
For the benefit of Foster Families and Social Workers, to promote an understanding of the emotional connection between Food and Children in Care.
Academic & Sporting Bursaries now available
Looked After Children (Foster Children) are far less likely to take advantage of these opportunities than those who have experienced a normal family upbringing. Amongst the general population, around 50% go on to university, within the Looked After community, that figure is a mere 6%. POP is seeking to address this disparity with its bursaries.
The bursaries can vary from £500 to £2000 per year depending on circumstances. These bursaries are available for any Children Looked After who want to further their academic or sporting achievements either at university, college or within the sporting world. These bursaries can also support our young people on their way to such endeavours, for example by providing computers, sporting kits, short courses, and extra tuition – either academic or sporting.
There is a formal application process which will include a written application from the applicant, and a shortlist, those on the shortlist will be interviewed and a final decision will be made by POP’s trustees.
POP is very keen to open the eyes of Foster Children to the opportunities available to them and support them in any way possible to reach their ambitions. Please talk to your children about these opportunities and please start early. So, from the time they are choosing/thinking/about their subjects at 14 – 15 -16 years of age. We all know that the state loans to go on to further education do not cover the costs. Our POP bursaries look to supplement those loans and try to encourage our Foster children to think big, take on the challenge of further education and not be deterred at an early stage through fear of debt.
For more information or an application form please contact Paul or Sam at [email protected].
Contact & Social Media Information
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0808-800-5000 [email protected]
