This week, Fair Ways hosted the first Portsmouth Fostering Friendly Business Summit, bringing together businesses, charities and community leaders from across the city to explore how workplaces can better support foster carers, care leavers and those with experience of the fostering system.
CP, our Chief Operating Officer, attended on behalf of Shaping Portsmouth, joining many familiar and friendly faces from across the Shaping Portsmouth network. The event marked an important milestone for the Fair Ways Fostering Friendly Employer Charter, which has now reached 150 signatories, following the announcement in November that Portsmouth had become the UK’s first official Fostering Friendly City with more than 100 businesses already signed up.
Throughout the summit, attendees heard powerful stories from care leavers and foster carers, both from Portsmouth and further afield, about the difference a supportive city can make. The message was clear: stability, understanding and flexibility from employers can have a lasting impact on families and young people navigating the fostering system.
A particular highlight was hearing from a care-experienced young person who shared their poem, “More Than Just a Care Kid”, which captivated the room. We also heard from three foster carers in the city about their experiences, including how they have balanced fostering with work and other commitments, and the vital role their employers played in supporting them along the way.
Speakers from Portsmouth City Council, Fair Ways and engaged local businesses helped bring the Charter to life, with Gareth Webb of Fair Ways encouraging everyone in the room to think practically about how fostering could work within their own organisations.
At Shaping Portsmouth, we are proud to support this work across the city, as well as within our own staff team and volunteer network. Many of our Patrons and Partners will already be among the 150 businesses signed up to the Charter, but we encourage even more organisations to get involved and help Portsmouth continue to lead the way as a truly fostering friendly city.