Avon Co-operative Development Agency
Brave Ltd, The Coach House, 2 Upper York Street
Bristol BS2 8QN
Tel: 0117 989 2536
Fax: 0117 944 5661
email: info@avoncda.coop
Avon CDA is pleased to announce that independent fostering agency, The Foster Care Co-operative (FCC), have opened an office in Bristol at the Easton Business Centre. FCC is registered with Co-operatives UK and the company is jointly owned by the staff and foster carers. The co-operative ethos strongly influences the overall culture of the agency.
The Foster Care Co-operative was set up in 1999 in Worcestershire, as an alternative for Local Authorities needing placements for children in care, who felt uneasy about using organisations making profit from placements. Over the last six years, the agency has grown steadily and there are now over 60 carers throughout England and Wales. Some time ago the agency recognised a need for carers in the Bristol area and hence the opening of premises. Contact was made with Avon CDA who were most helpful in pointing FCC in the right direction for accommodation and publicity.
The two workers based in Bristol are Jane Hardingham and Tessa Molden. Both are qualified and registered social workers who are looking forward to having a base in the area from where they can build up a strong and supportive carer group. They are very proud of the co-operative ethos of the agency and feel that many people are attracted to contacting FCC because of it.
They also feel the siting of the office in an Enterprise area was important because it emphasises what the culture of the FCC is trying to achieve.
Foster carers are desperately needed in the Bristol area for those children who for a short or long period cannot live with their own families. The vision of the FCC is to bring new people into fostering who can care for vulnerable children – a difficult but rewarding task. Single people, young couples and families may all be suitable to become carers as children requiring care are matched with those individuals who are most likely to meet their needs. Fostering is the main income for some of FCC’s current carers – a professional fee is paid to carers looking after children in their own home, along with social work support and training.
The Foster Care Co-operative office opened on September 1st and the telephone number is 0117 941 5358.
Other recent AVON CDA News:
Somali Voice
Avon CDA is proud to announce the registration of Bristol’s second BME
led co-operative and the only Somali Newspaper in the UK. Somali Voice is a
community co-operative producing a bi-lingual free independent monthly paper,
servicing the 14,000 Somalians living in Bristol. In addition to receiving support
from Avon CDA, Somali Voice has also been supported by BRAVE and has ongoing
production support from the Evening Post.
SPARKS Inc
Sparks Inc childcare co-op, registered at the start of 2005, is going from strength
to strength. They have just reached the end of a very successful summer holiday
play scheme and have waiting lists for all of their childcare services. Their
success was recognised at the BRAVE AGM when they were named as Co-operative
of the Year and presented with a cheque by Ian Heard, Chair of BRAVE Management
Committee. They are always keen to consider new members. Contact Carole on 0117
907 6443.
Open Door Foundation
Registered by Avon CDA earlier this summer, the Foundation is a not-for-profit
workers co-operative involved in health, education and evidence based research
around the belief that health, nature and society are interconnected. They offer
Personal Development training and counselling support for disadvantaged groups
to promote good mental health and well-being, to enhance quality of life and
help people achieve their full potential. The Open Door Foundation works to
re-empower people and support them to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Contact
Jill Foster on 07900 138444 for further information.
Action Time Vision Co-operative Ltd.
ATV presented Eastern Easton, a celebration of the cultural diversity in Easton,
at St Marks Road Street Party this August. Incorporating film and dance, Eastern
Easton included performances from local dance artists, and a programme of community
films made in Easton alongside the beautifully shot Iranian film ‘A Time
for Drunken Horses’.
For more information, visit the website www.avoncda.coop or contact us by telephone 0117 989 2536 or email: info@avoncda.coop for more information.