The conference brought foster parents together for a day of learning, reflection and celebration, and was centred on helping children and young people feel safe, valued and accepted for who they are.
Through keynote presentations and interactive workshops, participants explored themes including trauma, identity, culture, belonging and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
A particular highlight of the conference was keynote speaker Sarah Dillon, therapist, author and former fostered child, whose powerful and thought-provoking presentation resonated with foster parents throughout the day.
Drawing on both her professional expertise and lived experience, Sarah explored how identity develops, the lasting impact of trauma and the role relationships play in helping children heal and thrive.
Blending humour, honesty and emotion, Sarah challenged those attending to think differently about what children bring with them into their foster home and how foster parents can help rebuild a child's sense of self.
Her personal story and practical insights provided powerful takeaways, prompting reflection on how children experience belonging, safety and love. One key message that particularly resonated was that children can belong to more than one family and that fostering is not about replacing a child's past but helping them write a safer next chapter.
Sarah said: "It was a privilege to speak at the ‘Safe to Be Me’ conference and spend time with Wolverhampton's foster parents. Identity is shaped through relationships, and foster parents play a vital role in helping children feel safe, valued and accepted for who they are. When children experience that sense of belonging, it can be life changing."
One of the day's most impactful activities, ‘Unpacking Me: What I Carry’, invited foster parents to consider what a child brings with them when they enter their foster home. Using a rucksack filled with objects representing memories, experiences, comforts and emotional needs, participants explored the significance these items may hold for a child and their identity.
Foster parents reflected on what they would take with them if they had to leave home at short notice encouraging them to think about the emotional impact of leaving behind the people, possessions and memories that help us feel connected, safe and understood.
The exercise reinforced one of the conference's key messages: that when children come into a foster home, they bring their experiences, relationships, culture, memories and sense of self. Understanding these things is an essential part of helping children feel safe, supported and able to build trusting relationships.
Certificates were also presented during the event in recognition of the dedication, commitment and support shown by Wolverhampton's foster parents, celebrating the difference they make to the lives of children and young people every day.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "The Safe to Be Me conference highlighted something that sits at the heart of fostering; every child deserves to feel loved, accepted and valued for who they are.
"I would like to thank all of our foster parents for their dedication, compassion and commitment. Our foster parents do an incredible job supporting children through some of the most challenging times in their lives, helping them to build confidence, develop a sense of belonging and look forward to a brighter future.”
Fostering for Wolverhampton is always looking for more people who can offer local children a safe, stable and loving home. People from all backgrounds and walks of life are encouraged to find out more about becoming a foster parent and the life-changing difference they could make to a child or young person's future.
To find out more about fostering, visit www.fosteringforwolverhampton.com.
