Words Matter founder, Jessica Bondy, discussed the huge power and impact of the words adults say to children and young people at The Fostering Network’s ‘Empowering language in foster care’ seminar this week.
The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity and membership organisation, which brings together all those involved in the lives of children and young people who are fostered, including foster carers, and fostering services. There are around 43,000 fostering households in England, including mainstream and friends and family households.1
The ‘Empowering language in foster care’ seminar was created to increase understanding about the lasting damage verbal abuse by adults can have on children and the importance of positive reinforcement and narrative solution to help build self-esteem, confidence, and wellbeing.
Also speaking at the seminar were Paris Bartholomew and Linda Hill. Paris is a former secondary school teacher, lecturer, trainer, counsellor, short term foster carer and motivational speaker. She shared her own personal experience of foster care and the impact of language on the development and well-being of looked after children. She highlighted the power of words to shape a child’s self-esteem, emotional resilience, and overall outlook on life.
Linda is co-founder of Lika Family Fostering, a therapeutic fostering agency based in London rated as Outstanding by OFSTED. She showcased some systemic therapy practices, focusing on language, meaning, and relational dynamics within foster care and how these can be used to create change for foster children.
Jessica Bondy, commenting on the seminar says:
“We were delighted that The Fostering Network held this seminar to discuss the importance of words and language for children in foster care. Foster carers play such a vital role in society.
“Over 500 foster carers and fostering organisations registered to attend which highlights the interest in childhood verbal abuse by adults and the desire for advice and guidance. Raising awareness of this issue and educating all the adults who play a role in children’s lives is so vital to ending verbal abuse and helping children flourish. Change is possible if we all work together to find lasting solutions that support children and the people around them.”
ENDS
- https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fostering-in-england-1-april-2022-to-31-march-2023/ ↩︎