At Team Fostering we are proud to work with amazing women who make up our staff team, foster carers and young people now and over the past 18 years since the agency was established. We look forward to continuing to work with inspirational individuals that contribute to our mission of Putting Children’s Futures First.
This year, we’d like to pay a very special tribute to one of the founders of Team Fostering, Elaine Young. Elaine put her life and soul into the agency from 2001 – 2008, taking a lead on the agency’s policies and systems, and working hard to make sure that we kept children safe. She worked in the background at Team Fostering but her influence across the agency was enormous and as integral as those with front roles. With her work underpinning the structure of the agency, Team Fostering wouldn’t be here today without her. When Elaine left in 2008 she studied at Bangor University and began to teach mindfulness, just last year running a class for our North East staff team at their annual ‘away day.’ She’s been an inspiration for many people, including her two granddaughters, and has changed hundreds of peoples’ lives for the better in her quiet unassuming way.
Elaine set up the agency with husband Walter Young and close friend Peter Richardson in 2001 and sadly Elaine is unwell. Walter, who remains a Non-Executive Director at Team Fostering, is proud of her this International Women’s Day; ‘Elaine is being well looked after in a Palliative Care Unit, where she is comfortable. She is allowing the changes in her body to unfold with grace and acceptance. Her close family are with her all the time and we continue to feel deeply proud of her.’
We’d like to thank Elaine for everything that she has done for Team Fostering. She has truly made a difference to the lives of so many children and young people as a true champion of the agency’s foundations and values.
Lastly, thank you to the many women who have been part of Team Fostering and have helped us put children’s futures first over the years.