The need for foster carers is still significant with many children going into care each month. Perhaps you've considered fostering but still have lots of questions. This post is a good starting place for you. Here are some answers to some common questions about fostering. These are often things that put people off applying when actually they aren't obstacles in the first place. At asphaleia, we provide foster care placements for children and young people in West Sussex. Read

Arriving at a new foster home is a daunting experience for any child. Not only do they have to familiarise themselves with new people, but also new surroundings and routines, possibly even new foods as well. Every foster child will have their own bedroom in a home (unless they are siblings that are able to share) and the way foster carers prepare this bedroom can make all the difference to helping a child or young person feel at home. things to consider when preparing a foste

Across 2025, we’re celebrating 25 years of asphaleia through many activities and through stories on our blog. This story features an interview with Carol Ann, a member of staff who has worked at asphaleia for many years and has recently become our training manager.     How long have you worked for asphaleia and what role/s have you done? I started working for asphaleia in Uxbridge in 2006 as an outreach worker. I came to work with asphaleia when I saw an advert in a newspaper

Across 2025, we’re celebrating 25 years of asphaleia through many activities and through stories on our blog. This story features an interview with a member of staff who has worked at asphaleia previously, and continues to support the organisation through their current work.     How long did you work or have you worked for asphaleia and what role/s have you done? I worked for asphaleia for around three years as a finance administrator and as a care worker in the houses over c

The festive season has officially arrived, and what a joyful start it’s been! Across our community, young people have been busy spreading holiday magic by decorating beautiful Christmas trees in our learning centre and our supported accommodation houses. christmas in asphaleia care Not all of our young people celebrate Christmas, but most have entered into the spirit of togetherness by joining in with opening a Christmas hamper of treats that was sent to every property. Trees

As part of the functional skills employability programme at asphaleia training, students visited the Ford Recycling Centre in West Sussex to gain first‑hand insight into sustainable practices and the world of waste management. The objective of the visit was to connect classroom learning with real‑life industry experience, showing how recycling contributes to environmental responsibility and future employment opportunities. employability and careers Tutors played a guiding rol

Christmas can be a magical time, but for foster carers and the young people they care for, it can also be a sensitive and complex season. While many families have long-standing traditions, welcoming a foster child into those celebrations requires thoughtfulness, flexibility, and open communication. respecting different beliefs Not all children celebrate Christmas. Some may come from different religious or cultural backgrounds. In these cases, carers should be prepared to supp

Christmas is coming and for some it is a time for celebrating and having fun. However, Christmas can also bring up a lot of negative feelings. December can be a difficult time for people due to things like past trauma and family problems. Also, a lot of places you would usually go to for support are closed for the holidays and you may not know where to turn to. However, there are still some services open or partially open over Christmas where you can go to get support with yo

On the first Friday of every month we run an open day event. Book an appointment and find out about all the services we offer children and young people , including further education and training for 16-18 year-olds, supported accommodation for 16+, and our fostering agency. Feel free to come down if you're interested in being a foster carer and meet our agency manager who can answer any questions you have. next open day Friday 9th January, 9:30am-12:30pm The next three open

The UK government has announced a major reform to post-16 education: the introduction of V-Levels , a new qualification designed to simplify choices for students and strengthen vocational pathways. But what exactly are V-Levels, how do they differ from existing options, and what subjects will they cover? In this blog post, you’ll find V-Levels explained in detail, covering what they are, how they work, and why they matter for post-16 education. what are v-levels? V-Levels are

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is shaping the world around us—from voice assistants and self-driving cars to medical breakthroughs and creative tools. If you, or a young person you know is curious about technology and wants a career that’s exciting, future-proof, and impactful, AI could be the perfect path forward. why AI? AI is one of the fastest-growing industries globally. Companies need people who can design, build, and manage intelligent systems. The best part? There’s a w

Supported accommodation plays a critical role in helping young people build stability, confidence, and independence. With Ofsted now overseeing this sector, providers are expected to work to a clear set of principles that define what good care looks like and how young people should be supported. These principles set the tone for safe environments, consistent support, and strong relationships. ofsted key principle one; young people should feel safe The first principle is simp

Respect and celebrating difference were key themes last week as students from asphaleia marked Anti-bullying Week in November 2025. Respect for each other’s differences was shown in visual form when students at the learning centre designed and displayed pictures showing odd socks. Students with a variety of different nationalities, languages, cultures and beliefs were encouraged to respect difference. Some worked as a group to identify and write basic ideas on how we can resp

Are you passionate about supporting young people to gain skills and achieve their potential? Are you looking for a new challenge, working with a fantastic team? If so, we could have the perfect job opportunity for you in our West Sussex training, care and fostering teams. We currently have job vacancies for: Tutor - Functional Skills - 16-19 year olds - Employability - SEND - WORTHING We are seeking passionate and dedicated tutors to join our Tutor team and teach on a va

This November, across the UK we mark National Care Leavers Month (NCLM), a dedicated time to recognise, celebrate and support young people who are care experienced. what is national care leavers month? Originally the UK marked a one-week event called National Care Leavers’ Week, but in 2025 the week formally became a full month. NCLM is organised by and with care-experienced young people, supported by the Alliance for Children in Care and Care Leavers. It exists for the publi

Part of being a foster carer is dealing with endings and transitions that occur in foster care, and helping children and young people to manage the changes that go on in their lives.   Placements can end for different reasons, some of them planned and some unplanned. Our priority will always be supporting the child with whatever ending and transition will be taking place.   planned endings and transitions in foster care At asphaleia, when we place children in foster families,

Bullying remains a serious issue affecting millions of young people worldwide. Anti-bullying Week 2025 offers a vital opportunity to raise awareness, promote kindness, and create safer environments for everyone. what is anti-bullying week? From Monday 10 to Friday 14 November 2025, Anti-Bullying Week is taking place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, coordinated by the Anti‑Bullying Alliance (ABA). It’s a whole-week campaign designed to shine a spotlight on bullying:

Every November, Green Careers Week (3rd-8th November) highlights the growing range of “green” roles — jobs that help protect the environment, tackle climate change and support the UK’s journey to Net Zero. As an FE provider, it's a great opportunity to engage students aged 16–18 with vocational pathways into sustainable industries. This year’s theme is “Go Green!”, a chance to explore how every subject area and vocational course can contribute to a greener economy. why green

As part of our 25 years of asphaleia celebrations, we are doing a series of posts related to 25 years and wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate a volunteering role we have had for the past eight years. what is an Independent Visitor? Becoming an Independent Visitor (IV) is a truly special volunteering opportunity. Independent Visitors are matched with a child or young person in care to offer friendship, support, and fun — someone just for them , outside the care system.

One of our On Track Study classes recently participated in activities related to Black History Month in their lesson. On Track Study is an education programme for young people wishing to improve their English skills and understanding of life and learning in the UK.​ The programme runs from September to July every year, with opportunities to start throughout the year.  The students were given worksheets to look up the various named people on the Black History Month poster and