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Jan |
Feb |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug
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Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec | |
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Old Gipton Fire Station (East) Support Group Old Gipton Fire Station, Gipton Approach, LS9 6NL 10am - 12pm
Facilitators: Frances Webster |
30th |
27th |
27th |
- |
1st |
26th |
- |
- |
25th |
23rd |
27th |
- |
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St Georges Centre (South) Support Group training room 1, St Georges Centre, Middleton, LS10 4UZ 10am - 12pm
Facilitators: Sarah Coleman and Franky Regan |
6th Fostering facilitating |
10th Carer led – supported by Franky Regan |
10th Fostering Facilitating |
14th Carer led – Sarah Coleman supporting
|
12th Fostering Facilitating |
9th Carer led – supported by Franky Regan |
14th Fostering Facilitating |
8th Carer led – Sarah Coleman supporting
|
13th Fostering Facilitating |
10th carer led supported by Franky Regan |
8th Fostering Facilitating |
|
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Supported Lodgings Carer Support Group Old Gipton Fire Station, Gipton Approach, LS9 6NL 6pm-8pm
Facilitators: Suzie Walker & Cath Stephenson |
28th |
25th |
25th |
29th |
27th |
24th |
29th |
26th |
30th |
28th |
25th |
16th |
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Jan |
Feb |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
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Various locations: St. Columba UR Church, 70 Headingley Lane, LS6 2DH St. George's Centre, St, George's Road, Middleton, LS10 4UZ Stainbeck UR Church, Stainbeck Lane/Stainbeck Road, Chapel Allerton, LS7 2PP 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Facilitators: Jill Haigh, Emma Sutton, Dawn Trutch |
- |
12th St. Columba CLOSED GROUP |
- |
24th St. George's CLOSED GROUP |
- |
4th Stainbeck CLOSED GROUP |
- |
7th St. Columba CLOSED GROUP |
- |
8th St. George's CLOSED GROUP |
- |
3rd Stainbeck CLOSED GROUP |
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Reginald Centre, Chapeltown Rd, LS7 3EX 10am – 12pm Links for the virtual sessions can be obtained by email to e.gentles@btinternet.com. Please ensure that you enter the virtual sessions with your full name otherwise you will not be admitted until your identity is verified.
Facilitators: Gerarda Dolan and Sandra Hoto/Suzanne Forrest |
30th Virtual |
27th In person |
27th Virtual |
24th In person |
29th Virtual |
26th In person |
31st virtual |
- |
25th In person |
30th virtual |
27th In person |
- |
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St, Barnabas Church, Alwoodley 10am – 12pm
Facilitators: Stevie Scott and Suzie Walker |
8th |
5th |
5th |
2nd |
7th |
4th |
2nd |
- |
3rd |
1st |
5th |
3rd |
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Jan |
Feb |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
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Children with Disability Foster Carers Support Group Kernel House, LS14 6UF 10am - 12pm
Facilitators: Carly Hall |
8th |
12th |
12th (mindful walk) |
9th |
14th |
11th |
9th |
13th |
10th |
8th |
12th |
10th |
|
Guiseley (North) Support Group Guiseley Children’s Centre, Oxford Road, Guiseley, LS20 9DA 9.30am - 11.30am
Facilitators: Sam Binks and Shamsa Mehmood |
Hawthorne Farm |
4th |
4th |
1st |
6th |
3rd |
Hawthorne Farm |
- |
9th |
Tbc |
Tbc |
Tbc |
|
Parent and Child Support Group Face to Face venue: Cardigan Centre, Cardigan Road, LS6 1LJ 11am - 1pm
Facilitator: Kelsii Walker |
22nd OPEN GROUP Face to Face |
26th CLOSED GROUP Venue tbc |
26th CLOSED GROUP Virtual |
23rd OPEN GROUP Face to Face |
21st CLOSED GROUP Venue tbc |
18th CLOSED GROUP Venue tbc |
16th OPEN GROUP Face to Face |
- |
10th CLOSED GROUP Venue tbc |
8th CLOSED GROUP Virtual |
12th OPEN GROUP Face to Face |
10th Face to Face Venue tbc |
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Firthfields Little Owls building, Conisborough Lane, LS25 2LR 10am - 12pm
Facilitators: Leanne Gorny and Juliet Fraites |
16th |
13th |
20th |
24th |
22nd |
19th |
17th |
|
18th |
16th |
20th |
11th |
|
Jan |
Feb |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
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Asian Foster Carers Support Group Reginald Centre, Chapeltown Rd, LS7 3EX 10am - 12pm
Facilitator: Saima Hussain |
9th |
6th |
- |
3rd |
- |
12th |
- |
- |
11th |
- |
6th |
- |
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Teenage Foster Carers Support Group Public Room 3, Kernel House, Killingbeck Dr, LS14 6UF 10am -12pm
Richard Jackson and Sylvia Harris |
23rd |
20th |
20th |
17th |
22nd |
19th |
17th |
- |
18th |
16th |
13th |
11th |
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Short Breaks Carers Support Group Kernel House, Killingbeck Dr, LS14 6UF 10am -12pm
Facilitators: Mark Nye and Zoe Ogden |
14th CLOSED GROUP |
- |
11th CLOSED GROUP |
- |
13th CLOSED GROUP |
- |
8th CLOSED GROUP |
- |
9th CLOSED GROUP |
- |
11th CLOSED GROUP |
16th (Christmas Fuddle) CLOSED GROUP |
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John Lewis Community Room, 4th floor 10am - 12pm
Facilitators: Gill Morgan, Sophie Nutting and Nadine Chennells |
23rd |
27th |
27th |
24th |
22nd |
26th |
17th – Park |
Tbc |
Tbc |
Tbc |
Tbc |
Tbc |
|
Jan |
Feb |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
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Online sessions 4.30pm – 6pm Facilitators: Christina Stevenson and Adrianna Francis email UASCplacements@leeds.gov.uk |
9th |
20th |
27th |
tbc |
tbc |
tbc |
tbc |
tbc |
tbc |
tbc |
tbc |
tbc |
|
Evening Foster Carer Support Group St Georges Centre, Middleton, LS10 4UZ 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Facilitators: Mark Nye and Jacqueline Perrins |
30th |
- |
27th |
- |
22nd |
- |
10th |
- |
25th |
- |
- |
11th |
Training and e-learning resources
Training is vital for all social care professionals, especially foster carers.
All foster carers have to undertake training. However, how much training and the type of courses you are required to attend will vary and should be discussed with your supervising social worker during supervision.
Training events
- Foster Carer Training Calendar 2025 – coming soon
- Support Group Calendar 2025 (see dropdown below)
- Newly Approved Carer Workshops – New for 2025, we are now running online and in person workshops for newly approved carers (see dropdown below)
To book a place on a training course please use the PALS (Performance and Learning) service
*For assistance with booking though PALS, contact your supervising social worker. If a booking is urgent please call 0113 378 5274.
Support Group Calendar 2025
Leeds Black Foster Carers
LEEDS BLACK FOSTER CARERS operate a virtual (online) support group which is peer led and focussed on the individual carer as a person. The sessions are coordinated by Elaine Gentles who has been a foster carer for more than 20 years and is also a BACP registered therapeutic counsellor.
These sessions are a safe space for carers to discuss any issues that affect their fostering.
Peer participation is used to provide support, solutions and challenges to carers.
These sessions do not count as part of the mandatory support groups that you need to attend as a foster carer registered with Leeds City Council.
If you feel you would benefit from being part of our virtual support group, please contact
Elaine Gentles, mobile 07767333193, email: e.gentles@btinternet.com
Moving On Forum
The focus of the forum is to help you to manage moving children on.
The forums are facilitated by experienced foster carers, a supervising social worker Carly Hall, and an adoption social worker from One Adoption.
Moving children on is one of the most challenging roles of foster carers. It is a highly emotional time for everyone – the child, other children (birth, fostered and adopted), the parents the child is moving to and the foster carers.
We will share experiences and ideas to help you cope with life as children move on. There will be opportunities to interact with others, exchange ideas, gain and give support.
Dates for 2025 are:
Spring - Kernel House Tuesday 11th February 2025
Online Thursday 27th February 2025
Summer – Kernel House Wednesday 4th June 2025
Online Thursday 12th June 2025
Autumn - Kernel House Tuesday 7th October 2025
Online Friday 17th October 2025
For more info, please contact Anne-Marie (AnneMarie.Stokes@leeds.gov.uk) or Carly (Carly.Hall@leeds.gov.uk)
New Carer Taster Sessions
These taster sessions are available for carers during stage 2 of their assessment and until their first review. The taster sessions will provide an introduction to 4 key areas and an opportunity to connect with other people at a similar point in their fostering journey.
Each topic will be covered 3 times over the course of a year and will be held both online and in person. Carers will only need to attend one session per topic.
Safer Care
| Wednesday 12th March 2025 | 12-1pm | MS Teams |
| Tuesday 4th November 2025 | 7-9pm | Kernel House |
| Wednesday 3rd December 2025 | 12-1pm | MS Teams |
To request your place at one of the Safer Care sessions, please email diane.lowry@leeds.gov.uk
Trauma Informed Care
| Monday 10th February 2025 | 12-1pm | MS Teams |
| Wednesday 10th September 2025 | TBC | TBC |
| Monday 10th November 2025 | 12-1pm | MS Teams |
To request your place at one of the Trauma Informed Care Sessions, please email Nicola.Booth@leeds.gov.uk
Record Keeping
| Friday 7th March 2025 | 10 - 12pm | Kernel House |
| Tuesday 29th April 2025 | 12-1pm | MS Teams |
| Wednesday 24th September 2025 | 12-1pm | MS Teams |
To request your place at one of the Record Keeping Sessions, please email julie.parkin2@leeds.gov.uk
Placements and Matching considerations
| Friday 9th March 2025 | 12-1pm | MS Teams |
| Thursday 12th June 2025 | TBC | TBC |
| Tuesday 14th October 2025 | 12-1pm | MS Teams |
To request your place at one of the Trauma Informed Care Sessions, please email lauren.dyas@leeds.gov.uk
E–learning and resources
The websites listed on this page offer free online courses and resources relevant to caring for children and young people.
*Remember to complete a reflective learning log so any e-learning can count towards your required minimum training hours.
Disability Matters
Free e-learning resource for those caring and working with children with disabilities.
Family Lives
The Family Lives website has a variety of information on caring for and parenting children from birth to adulthood, including coping strategies when caring for children who have experienced trauma.
Fostering and adoption research in practice
Fostering and adoption research in practice learning resources, commissioned by the Department for Education in 2013, bringing together research and evidence on key aspects of supporting looked after children.
The materials are designed to support individuals and learning and development leads to build skills and knowledge for practice and Continuous Professional Development in this area.
The resources are designed for:
- children’s social workers
- foster carer/adopters social workers (supervising social worker)
- independent reviewing officers
- social work managers
- foster carers and adopters
Fostering and adoption research in practice
Fostering Hope
Fostering Hope has been developed to promote excellence in parent–and–child foster care, recognising this as specialised role needing additional training, skills and support. These resources have been developed from the ideas and experiences of parents, parent–and–child foster carers and social workers.
Free online training
Free nationally recognised courses available to social care professionals and the public in Yorkshire. Funded via central government.
Course include Autism awareness, working with challenging behaviour and basic childhood illnesses.
We find any learner course list
Inclusive Digital Safety advice hub
Navigate the range of expert advice guides to support children who may be more likely to experience online risks such as those with additional needs, disabilities, or certain lifestyles.
Inclusive Digital Safety advice for Parents and Carers | Internet Matters
The NSPCC also have lots of resources and advice about keeping children safe online
Mind-Ed
Mind-Ed is a national child and adolescent mental health e- learning package containing a range of e-learning modules each 30 minutes long aimed at people working with 0 to 18 year olds.
By registering your role as a foster carer online you will be given a list of modules appropriate for you. All the training is designed by experts in the field, and reviewed by professionals including the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Open University
Discover hundreds of free courses to inspire and inform.
Social Workers Toolbox
Free social work tools for direct work with children and adults by social workers (many resources are relevant for foster carers).
Other online resources
- Childhood trauma and the brain (YouTube video)
- Dr Bruce Perry - Early Brain Development: Reducing the Effects of Trauma (YouTube video)
- How trauma affects the brain during early years – a 1 hour talk by Dan Hughes
- The attachment theory: how childhood affects life (YouTube video)
- The Repair of Early Trauma: A Bottom Up Approach (YouTube video)
- Listening to children who present as angry
Videos about Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
CSE is a type of sexual abuse in which children are sexually exploited for money, power or status. Children or young people may be tricked into believing they're in a loving, consensual relationship. They might be invited to parties and given drugs and alcohol.
Produced by Crime Stoppers, the videos provide more information about all aspects of CSE.
You will need to use the password OSCSE2016 to watch the videos.
TED Talk
A 15 minute talk on the 'mysterious workings of the adolescent brain’ by Sarah-Jayne Blakemore
Handbook - Teenagers in Foster Care
A handbook for foster carers and those that support them (PDF, 1.4MB)