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Throughout June, we are bringing colleagues together for our first Safety and Safeguarding Month. This internal campaign is designed to keep safety visible, relevant and practical in our day to day work. Each week, staff receive a short, focused email exploring a different theme, with time to reflect, learn and take action. Rather than approaching safety as a one-off reminder, this month is about building habits. It supports staff to notice risks earlier, feel confident raisi

It's exam season at secondary schools, colleges, and asphaleia training. Exam and assessment periods can be a challenging time for many young people. Alongside the pressure to perform, exams can bring anxiety, low confidence or worries linked to previous experiences of education. preparation is key Helping young people prepare for exams is about more than academic knowledge. It also involves supporting their wellbeing, helping them understand what to expect, and encouraging c

Many people assume fostering only works if you are at home all day or caring for very young children. In reality, some of the most impactful foster carers are working professionals with a spare bedroom and a willingness to guide a young person towards adulthood. If you work full time, whether hybrid or office-based, and have ever thought, “I’d love to foster, but my schedule wouldn’t suit younger children,” there is a placement that could be a great fit. a perfect match for

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 (11th–17th May) is led by the Mental Health Foundation and focuses on a simple but powerful message: take action. This theme reflects a growing recognition that awareness alone is not enough. The Foundation highlights that even small actions can help us feel more hopeful, less overwhelmed, and better connected to others. At a time when many people understand the importance of mental health but struggle to prioritise it, the campaign encourage

Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s largest campaign to raise awareness of fostering. This year it runs from Monday 11th of May to Sunday 24th of May, with the theme ‘This is Fostering’. The theme invites us to pause and reflect on what fostering really looks like today. It brings together real experiences, recognises current pressures, and calls for change across the system. At its heart, this campaign is about people. the reality of everyday fostering Fostering is often descr

Recently, colleagues from across asphaleia came together for one of our HR forums. These sessions are designed to create a supportive and respectful space where staff can listen, reflect and share perspectives on issues that affect our working lives and the children and young people we serve. This particular forum touched on wider societal themes that many people encounter in their day-to-day lives, both inside and outside of work. While the subject matter was complex, the in

We are delighted to share that asphaleia has achieved the We invest in people accreditation from Investors in People. This accreditation recognises that strong principles and practices are in place to support our people, and that everyone understands how to use them to make work better. Most importantly, this is a shared achievement. We want to say thank you to every member of our staff team for their contribution and dedication. staff feedback Our assessment gave us a valua

Last month, asphaleia shared its annual staff awards with colleagues across the organisation. These awards are designed to recognise exceptional contributions and commitment shown over the past year. While the awards highlight individual staff achievements, we value the hard work and dedication of every member of our team. In January, staff were invited to nominate colleagues for two of the awards, guided by the asphaleia values and how those values are demonstrated in day‑to

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 the following to find out more about fostering and what's involved. Do we need a large spare bedroom? No, the room does not need to be excessively big. Your spare bedroom, of any size, could become a room to

Whether you have had experience looking after children or not, it can feel like an intimidating prospect to become a foster carer. Perhaps you’re keen to give back to your community and believe you can offer a child a place of safety. But you’re concerned you don’t have the skills needed to give a child in a care the support they need to thrive. In this blog post, we want to highlight some transferable skills that we are confident you will have gained in work and life, an

The 18th March 2026 is national child exploitation awareness day, #CEADay26. It is a day to highlight the issues surrounding child exploitation and encourage everyone to think, spot, and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero tolerance to child exploitation. CE Day is led by the NWG charity CCE or CSE can happen to any child or young person. We encourage you to speak to children and young people you live or work with to discuss these topics, to educate them to recognise pos

Fostering a child can be incredibly rewarding, giving you the chance to make a meaningful difference in the life of a young person who needs stability and support. If you’re passionate about helping children and creating positive change, it can also be a fulfilling career path. Becoming a foster carer means welcoming a child, or sometimes a parent and child, into your home full‑time. While fostering is a paid role, the way payment works is a little different from a traditiona

On 10th February 2026, people and organisations across the UK and around the world are coming together to mark Safer Internet Day , an annual campaign that champions the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology. This year’s theme is “Smart tech, safe choices: Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI” and it feels more relevant than ever as artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday life for young people. AI tools are now being used for learning, cre

In May 2025, our fostering agency was rated Outstanding by Ofsted. A recognition that reflects the incredible dedication, compassion, and professionalism of our foster carers. This achievement isn’t just a badge of honor; it’s a testament to the life-changing care provided to children every single day. Over the past week, we’ve been sharing what makes our foster carers truly exceptional, based on highlights from our Ofsted inspection report. Here are some of the qualities tha

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

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

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