Andrew R
#FamilyGroupConference & #LifelongLinks Team Manager, sailing, running, family 🌱
Please follow @familyrightsgp.bsky.social
- Reposted by Andrew R⏰Head over to YouTube at 1pm today for the premiere of 'A father's story - a film for Black History Month'. Father of three Elliott opens up about his family’s experience seeking support from children’s services—despite fears of ethnic bias & negative stereotypes. 🔗ow.ly/3lZk50XbFLS
- Reposted by Andrew R🌟 We're Hiring: Senior Fundraising Development Manager 🌟 📍 Location: Hybrid 🕒 Hours: Full-time – variations possible 💼 Salary: £49,792 (including £3,650 London allowance) 📅 Deadline: 9am, Monday 3rd November 2025 (9am) Find out more and apply: ow.ly/UTnz50Xbayt #Hiring
- Reposted by Andrew RThe Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will make it mandatory for local authorities to offer families the opportunity to come up with solutions for their children’s welfare. Find out how we can help your local authority to do it right. 👉 frg.org.uk/training-con...
- Reposted by Andrew R📢 Ofsted visit to @sandwellcouncil.bsky.social children’s services highlights benefits of FGCs. FGCs are making a real difference in places like Sandwell but the offer is inconsistent across the country. Let’s make FGCs a national standard, not a postcode lottery. Learn more: ow.ly/vh5V50Wxm7v
- Went to see Elio today. A story about a young man in kinship care, feeling isolated on a search to find a sense of belonging. Amazing film! Love the aliens too!!
- Reposted by Andrew R✈️ Lifelong Links goes international! We’re excited to share a glimpse from a recent trip to Oslo, where @cathyashley.bsky.social and @pamledward.bsky.social alongside FGC service manager Nicky Pallis, presented Lifelong Links to Norwegian sector leaders. #LifelongLinks #BuildNotBreak #Norway #Oslo
- Reposted by Andrew RWe’re pleased to be working with @foundationsww.bsky.social and @wearecoram.bsky.social on this important research project exploring how Family Group Conferences (FGCs) are offered to families in England. The newly published rapid evidence review is the first step in this vital work.
- New report 📢 Today we've published a rapid evidence review looking at families' experiences of being offered a #FamilyGroupConference - the first step in our project w/ @wearecoram.bsky.social & @familyrightsgp.bsky.social on improving access to FGCs 🌟 Read now: foundations.org.uk/our-work/pub...
- Reposted by Andrew R🌟 It’s #CarersWeek2025 Sharon is a kinship carer raising her grandchildren. In this blog, she opens up about the emotional and financial sacrifices she’s made, to provide a stable and loving home for her grandchildren. Read it here: ow.ly/G02w50W6TYn
- Reposted by Andrew RToday, the Government announced the #SpendingReview. FRG welcomes the commitment to investing in a children’s social care system where families get help early before their problems escalate. The need for urgent action is clear. Our full response: frg.org.uk/news-blogs-a...
- Reform UK hosted 15 year old boys at Weatherspoons pub in Folkestone this weekend. Bought them chips and drinks. There is a very targeted ongoing campaign to enroll youth into their party.
- In relation to cutting budgets, new Reform UK councillor in Kent said the focus will be on children and adults social care and SEN. Only 6 of the 57 have any political experience. MAGA hats were being worn at the polling stations. This is not going to be good.
- Reposted by Andrew RIn a new blog for Children & Young People Now, FRG Chief Exec @cathyashley.bsky.social and @childrenfirst.bsky.social Chief Exec @margl24.bsky.social tell us to take a step back and reimagine how we support children and families in need. Read the full blog here: www.cypnow.co.uk/content/blog...
- Reposted by Andrew R
- If you’re looking for information or training on family group decision making, go to www.frg.org.uk for all your fgdm needs @familyrightsgp.bsky.social
- Reposted by Andrew RSlowly but surely we will change the picture.
- Reposted by Andrew RWe are delighted to be working with Foundations, Coram, Daybreak and Data to Insight to improve insight in families' access to FGCs. Our new report reveals that very few local authorities report on the outcomes of FGCs for families. Read more: ow.ly/1qg150Va6hZ
- 200 autistic children and children with learning disabilities are still detained in UK mental health hospitals. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
- Reposted by Andrew R📢 Need advice about children’s services? We’re here to help! If you’re a parent, kinship carer, relative, or friend of a child involved with children’s services in England, our free advice service can support you. frg.org.uk/get-help-and... #HelplinesAwarenessDay
- Reposted by Andrew RThis week, in a first for our panel of parents with lived experience of children's social care, they met with Children's Minister @janetdaby.bsky.social. A "pivotal moment" in @angelafrazerwicks.bsky.social's words - "from being seen as part of the problem to being seen as part of the solution."
- Great webinar on #FamilyGroupDecisionMaking with @familyrightsgp.bsky.social today. Family group conferences are an evidence based decision-making meeting for families when they need it most.
- A Family Group Conference is an evidence based way of keeping children with their families. PS it is also evidenced to save local authority money! Bonus. #familygroupconference #fgdm #familygroupdecisionmaking
- Reposted by Andrew R🗓️Exclusive online briefing for councillors including lead members for children's services in England. Join us tomorrow to explore the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill and how your local authority can deliver the new mandate to offer family group decision making meetings frg.org.uk/events/counc...
- Reposted by Andrew R🗓️Exclusive online briefing for councillors including lead members for children's services in England. Join us next Thursday to explore the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill and how your authority can deliver the new mandate to offer family group decision making meetings. frg.org.uk/events/counc...
- Reposted by Andrew RNew analysis by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory has found nearly 3,000 newborn babies were subject to care proceedings in England in 2022-23-an increase of nearly 20% since 2012-13. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
- www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Journalists in UK now allowed to report from family courts
- “We don’t have to go to the highest extremes of contempt when we are in a position of disagreement”
- Now is a once in a generation opportunity for family group conferences to be a legal right for families in England Find out more here: frg.org.uk/policy-and-c... Spread the word.
- Beverley is an amazing human being and this is so well deserved. Congratulations 🙌
- MBE for much-admired child welfare campaigner South London Press reports on our family participation officer and adviser, Beverley Campbell, receiving an Honour from the King for services to kinship care. londonnewsonline.co.uk/news/mbe-for...
- Reposted by Andrew R📢Today, MPs debated the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill – a huge opportunity to reform child welfare! It includes families having the opportunity to come up with solutions before children enter care & a new local kinship care offer. Our analysis 👇 frg.org.uk/policy-and-c...
- Reposted by Andrew RJIUJITSU is the family I needed when my time foster care created traumas that were prevalent in my early adulthood Hi Bluesky, I'm Ray. The founder of 'One Community Jiujitsu Club' Hoping to find more cool people on BlueSky 🙏🏽 #Jiujitsu
- Reposted by Andrew RWe’re excited for the @biggive.bsky.social Christmas Challenge 2024! Starting at noon tomorrow, every donation made during the campaign will be doubled whilst match funds last. Can you help us provide specialist advice to more families? donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05... #GivingTuesday
- “Don’t let anybody, anybody convince you this is the way the world is and therefore must be. It must be the way it ought to be.” Toni Morrison Need Toni Morrison wisdom now more than ever
- Reposted by Andrew RWe’ve analysed new data on children raised with relatives & friends in kinship foster care in England. 16% of children in care are living with kinship foster carers. But that's only part of the story. There's also lots of variation. From 32% in North Tyneside to 5% in Derby.
- Reposted by Andrew RThe FosterWiki Chrismas Ad ‘IT’S TIME’ Watch here: youtu.be/ougxNfDXaIs?... Please share 🙏 #ifnotnowwhen #ittakesavillage #dontmoveme #brokenattachments #fostercare #fosterWiki #childrenincare
- Reposted by Andrew RShocking new child safeguarding review published today: ➡️ sexually abused children ignored & disbelieved ➡️ risks posed by adults within the family are frequently overlooked, misunderstood/minimised ➡️ practitioners consistently lack the support/guidance/direction to intervene effectively 1/3
- Reposted by Andrew RExactly this! It’s a reminder that every child, regardless of circumstance, deserves to be cherished loved and protected
- Whoever you are. If you work directly or indirectly with children and young people in the care system, please read this book. Once you have read it - read it again - and recommend it to others. #socialwork Free Loaves on Fridays Edited by Rebekah Pierre unbound.com/books/free-l...
- Reposted by Andrew RDo you work with unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people after they have turned 18? Sharing your experiences would be invaluable for this study on #socialwork with adults seeking asylum, and will contribute to developing ways of supporting you. Contact me for an info sheet or a chat. #leavingcare
- Reposted by Andrew R
- ‘More foster carers leaving than signing up’ www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
- Saw this today: The Māori word for Autism is ‘Takiwatanga’. It means ‘in their own time and space’
- Reposted by Andrew RWe were excited today to be at the Family Drug and Alcohol Court Annual Judge's Conference to celebrate the success of this powerful problem-solving court over the last year and throughout its 16 year history.
- Reposted by Andrew RWe did it! Or more accurately - they did it! 2024 Children's Legal Team of the Year Congratulations to the brilliant legal team at @familyrightsgp led by Caroline Lynch. A huge thank you to all who support our work, LexisNexis UK & the v wise award judges 😉
- A huge congratulations to our legal team who were awarded Children’s Law Team of the Year at the LexisNexis Family Law Awards 🎉 frg.org.uk/news-blogs-a...
- New publication: Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive I’m biased but family group conferences are the best form of family group decision making. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67375f...
- Reposted by Andrew RFeeling the love in Leeds tonight 🧡 coming together as a community to celebrate the awe inspiring achievements of our beautiful care experienced young people 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶
- Amazing news and well deserved!
- A huge congratulations to our legal team who were awarded Children’s Law Team of the Year at the LexisNexis Family Law Awards 🎉 frg.org.uk/news-blogs-a...
- Reposted by Andrew RSo lovely to start the week with so many new followers! Welcome all 🤗 Our (UK) children's sector #StarterPack is still a work in progress, so let us know if you'd like to be added: bsky.app/starter-pack...at://did:plc:hkssn2ih23ylzvlu7xtt4bne/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3lawaqvk3qi2u
- Reposted by Andrew RReform MP James McMurdock (won his seat by 98 votes) didn't disclose his conviction for assaulting his partner before the GE He went on to describe it as a "teenage indiscretion" The Times now reveals he "kicked his girlfriend" repeatedly Thoughts? www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/ref...
- Reposted by Andrew RChrissi, a grandmother kinship carer in County Durham, spoke to #5News about stepping in to raise her four grandchildren and being forced to give up the job she loved. Our new survey research shows this is too common with 2 in 3 kinship carers have to give up work or reduce their hours.
- Reposted by Andrew RWishing our legal team all the best at tonight’s @lexisnexis.bsky.social Family Law Awards 2024, where they are shortlisted for Children’s Legal Team of the Year. Their excellent work contributes to our role as a leading authority on child welfare law, policy and practice. #familylawawards
- Lifelong Links an innovative approach, developed by @familyrightsgp The aim of Lifelong Links is to ensure that a child in care, or a care leaver, has a positive, loving support network that they can rely on. #LifelongLinks m.youtube.com/watch?v=gcnZ...
- “In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage - to know who we are & where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, & the most disquieting loneliness” Alex Haley
- Reposted by Andrew R"All families face challenges at one time or another. I want to help them come up with their own solutions wherever possible" - Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education An ambition we have long campaigned for and look forward to working with Government to achieve.
- Reposted by Andrew RSome good news for FGC from the new policy paper "Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive." Family VOICE is another esearch to bring you some insights of FGC. The project is ongoing. #FamilyGroupConference #FGC #SocialWorkResearch #CASCADE cascadewales.org/research/fam...
- Family group conferences are solutions for children designed by people that know and love them #FamilyGroupConference #SocialWork
- “We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist” - Robert Jones, Jr [Repost with correct attribution]
- Reposted by Andrew RExcellent interview by Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP, on the Government's intention to tackle profiteering from children's homes, and focus on early help to keep children safely in their families. As ever, the devil will be in the detail. frg.org.uk/news-blogs-a...
- “Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings” - Nelson Mandela
- Children are not commodities www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
- Reposted by Andrew RFor 50 years we've influenced the child welfare system to support children & families to stay safely together. None of this would be possible without our supporters. We're excited to celebrate with a special film youtu.be/HCAa3Cf2_fQ #FRG50 #ActForKinshipCare
- Reposted by Andrew RLooks like the social work crew are starting to arrive on here, so I've had a first go at making a starter pack. Let me know if you want adding on, plenty of room for everyone! go.bsky.app/56PBom2at://did:plc:bj6y6aavbjxeo3mkctkxuo46/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3lamv532cx225
- Reposted by Andrew RLundy and me is a short film, made with young people,about how it feels to have their voices heard and acted upon when they first access services, bringing the Lundy Model to life. Find out more about Anna Freud's Participation strategy 👇🏻 www.annafreud.org/participation/ youtu.be/GSkLDWmfx3Q?...
- Reposted by Andrew RNew paper led by @DrKatieEllis based on interviews with 15 prominent care experienced activists regarding their activism to achieve change in care systems. Thank you to all the participants for their insights. Available: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
- Reposted by Andrew RIf you want to know about peer parent advocacy in child protection in England - what it is and what's happening in the parent advocacy movement watch the first 10 minutes of this video. vimeo.com/840158241
- Remember when Eastenders had a pre-birth family group conference for Lily and Ricky’s baby Charli? Not a bad attempt to include FGC. And if Eastenders can do it in 2023, it would be great to see ALL local authorities offering #familygroupconference in 2025! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr8F...
- Every child in care should be offered Lifelong Links
- Why does that matter? Because children in the care system are very often separated from their siblings, have to change school, or move far away from family and friends. They can be left isolated and alone. Salma shares some of her experience here: bsky.app/profile/fami...
- Reposted by Andrew RWhat’s up Human Rights Advocates!
- Reposted by Andrew REvery family should be offered a family group conference where there are concerns about the care or protection of their child. Unless an emergency makes this impossible. Providing family and friends the opportunity to resolve problems before the state gets more heavily involved.
- Reposted by Andrew RToday’s annual children in the care system stats show there are around 83,630 children looked after in England, a 0.5% fall over the last year. The % of those children in kinship foster care with relatives or friends continues to rise - now 16.3%. But this remains much lower than in other nations
- Reposted by Andrew RHey 👋 Our first words on @bsky.app go to Salma, a care experienced young woman in London, who explains how our Lifelong Links approach has made a difference for her and for other young people in the care system. #BuildNotBreak
