Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F podcast. In this episode I speak to adoptive parent Ali. With her husband they adopted two boys and after what seemed like a routine and normal experience of parenting challenges came when they started School. Ali shares her experience of facing challenges, difficult decisions that led to her setting up the ‘Fizzy Kids’ website and FaceBook page. 

As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at [email protected]

Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

This month, we're exploring the power of interpretations. The way we hear, use, and understand words can significantly shape how we think,feel, and respond. We reflect on how shifting our interpretations can improve relationships and promote understanding.

As always you can connect with us through the following -

Instagram- BMBUltd

Facebook – Better Me Better Us

Email – [email protected]

Phd Student Laura Smith recently got in touch with us in relation to research that she is undertaking research assessing the impact of a history of childhood maltreatment in the birth family on a child's emotional development. This is aimed specifically at adopters and adoptees aged 3 to 10 years old and she is keen to speak to families. We unpick why she is undertaking this research and what it can tell us in terms of how we care for adopted, and other children, who have experienced early adversity. 

If you'd like to be involved here is the link to the study for parents to take part: https://southampton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ekEPeAvyn4TjBmC

We also unpack the ongoing ASGSF saga and Scott shares news of the upcoming, and rather exciting, FASD Ireland conference in May. You can find details of that here. 

At no point do we mention Al's Churchill Fellowship and that you can find out more here!

As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]

Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to this slightly unusual episode of Converations from the A&F podcast. 

Today I’m speaking to Peter Jakob, he introduced NVR (Non Violent Resistance) to the UK and has been a leader in its development and training of practitioner here. He’s has a new book out ‘Non Violent Resistance in Trauma Focused Practice’, we talk about that as well as broader issues supporting families. 

As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]

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This was a fantastic episode to record, Rebecca draws on her experience as an adoptive parent to a child impacted by FASD as well as being a practicing social worker as we talk about FASD and the challenges families face getting help. To be honest it's such a critical topic we cartwheel around it. 

Rebecca wrote the following:

"I am a doctoral researcher at Birmingham City University. My research looks at post adoption social work with families with a child with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of FASD (Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder) from the perspectives of social workers, parent carers and children.

I am seeking participants who are social workers in the field of post adoption social work and have experience of working with children with a confirmed of suspected diagnosis of FASD to complete the this questionnaire here."

As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]

Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

In this episode we get Becky Brooks to come on and walk us through the new Government's Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that is progressing through parliament now. There's lot to unpack and Becky is able to direct us to the highlights with school uniforms, admission rules for looked after children, virtual school powers, guardianship offers and much more discussed. 

As always Beck it spot on and you can read more on her analysis here.

If you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]

Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

This month we’re talking about kindness- the chosen as Children's word of the year for 2024.We'll talk about why it matters, how it shapes connections and interactions.

Kindness isn’t just about individual moments—it creates a ripple effect. When children experience kindness, it strengthens relationships, builds trust, and influences the systems and communities around them. A kind, understanding approach within families, schools, and support networks can transform outcomes for children who have experienced trauma.

As always you can connect with us through the following -

Instagram- BMBUltd

Facebook – Better Me Better Us

Email – [email protected]

Hello and Welcome to this Episode, It's always a pleasure to have Adoption UK's Becky Brooks onto the podcast. Becky is an adoptive parent, former foster care, author and self confessed policy and statistics Nerd. 

Adoption UK's Adoption Barometer is open til the 17th Feb and is a tool that informs policy makers and gives real data to the lived experience of adoptees and adopters' families. We unpick some of the reasoning behind the questions and why only 16 to 25 year old adoptees are polled. 

We get of course chat about much more, hoovers, jeans and law and as always Becky's experience, knowledge and humour make it a Bantertastic episode. 

As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]

Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

Hello and welcome to conversations from the A&F podcast. In this episode I speak to solo adopter Ramsey. He shares his journey to adoption and the experience of travelling through it on his own. 

As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, the app formerly known as Twitter or email us at [email protected]

Listen/subscribe on iTunes here or Spotify here

Hello and Welcome to this Episode, we jump on the AI bandwagon and dig into what we think about the idea of support to families being provided by A.I. It is an interesting chat and we give on A.I. model a try with surprising results. We also unpack the comments we got through our FB page. 

Fiona Wells joins us for the whole conversation, share's her perspective and then gives us an update about the work of PATCH targeting change within adoption.

As always if you’ve experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at [email protected]

Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here