Aspirations Fostering was founded by Angie Kirby and Gary Parker. Angie had a dream of owning her own Fostering Agency and improving the lives and outcomes of children and young people who come into foster care. Both Angie and Gary had worked in Fostering for a significant number of years, Angie had managed Fostering Teams in Local Authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies.
After two decades working for various fostering establishments, Angie repeatedly found that many missed the principle of supporting looked-after children and young people in discovering what their goals were, what they wanted to achieve in their lives, and how to support them in doing so. Angie truly believed that every child in foster care should be heard, supported and encouraged to reach their full potential, avoiding the belief that they could not achieve their aspirations or have them in the first place. So, in 2015 Angie and Gary decided to form Aspirations Fostering and began to look into the requirements to start a new fostering agency.
It required a lot of planning and preparation, including being approved by Ofsted, becoming a registered company, completing many assessments and also, finding the agency a Responsible Individual/ Agency Decision Maker, and Angie knew just the person. Angie had worked alongside Ken Johnson for a number of years and when she contacted Ken he didn’t hesitate to agree to become Aspirations Fostering Agency Decision Maker. Policies and procedures had to be written and compiled, Children’s Guides, Statement’s of Purpose etc.
In February 2016 Angie and Gary were office hunting, having seen a couple of contenders Angie found an office to rent in Hockley, Essex. While viewing the office Angie immediately fell in love with it. It was bigger than anything they had seen, it had ample parking and views out of bi-fold windows stretching across fields to the river Crouch, you could even see the masts of the boats. Gary, however, informed Angie they couldn’t afford the office, it was over budget. Angie simply said “But I want it”, and the paperwork was signed that day! Ofsted interviews and visits were completed in March 2016, and then the Ofsted Certificate of Registration arrived dated 29th March 2016.
Angie’s dream of having her own Fostering Agency had come to fruition.
Next step was to recruit Foster Carers and an Independent Fostering Panel. Angie had, in the past, moved from a Local Authority Fostering Team Manager position to an Independent Fostering Agency Team Manager position and several foster carers had followed her when she moved. Several foster carers decided to follow Angie once again and Aspirations Fostering suddenly had a core group of foster carers. Angie and Gary were very busy at this stage, approving Foster Carers, building relationships with Local Authorities, hiring people for their panel, setting up web sites etc.
2016 seemed to fly by, Aspirations Fostering held their first Christmas Party for the foster carers, their families and all of the foster children in their care.
2017 found Angie and Gary continuing to build Aspirations Fostering. An Ofsted Inspection in March 2017 produced a ‘Good’ outcome.
Angie and Gary were working from home on New Years Eve 2017 when Angie received a phone call informing her there was a large fire in the general area of the office. They attempted to drive to the office but the surrounding roads were all sealed off and from a vantage point on top of a nearby hill they could see their office up in flames.
It was close to midday on New Years Day 2018 when Angie and Gary got access to the office.
Everything was gone. The Aspirations Fostering Office, the surrounding businesses and buildings all burnt to the ground.
The Landlord, told Gary later that everyone turned up at the scene of the fire saying they had lost everything, but only one person asked him how he was, as he really had lost everything. It was Angie who had asked him how he was. Aspirations Fostering had a most unwanted test of their Business Continuity Policy.
Our landlord asked if Aspirations Fostering would like to stay on the site if he rebuilt the premises, and Angie and Gary both agreed they would very much like to remain there. With the promise that a new office would be built as soon as possible and a temporary office would be built in the interim, Angie and Gary set off to find temporary office space. They managed to rent a suitable office, which was actually found by Ken, Aspirations Fostering Responsible Individual.
Angie had been suffering with a bad back, she visited a Chiropractor and after an initial consultation it was decided Angie should have some x-rays carried out. The Chiropractor advised Angie the x-rays were inconclusive but advised Angie to get x-rays completed at the hospital. Following a GP referral a hospital appointment was made and x-rays completed.
At the end of April 2018 Angie was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
Angie was tested for type of Chemotherapy that was deemed to be having good results and she passed the threshold so treatment began. Angie and Gary decided they would need to appoint a Fostering Team Manager to relieve Angie of her duties so advertisements commenced, a short list produced, interviews and checks completed and in August 2018 Joanna King was appointed Fostering Team Manager.
Angie’s battle with Cancer became tough, however she kept fighting on despite putting up a very courageous fight, through which she never once complained, Angie lost her battle with Cancer on October 25th 2018.
Aspirations Fostering continued as Angie’s legacy and The Angie Kirby Fund was set up to help children and young people fostered by Aspirations Fostering. This help has included dental care, purchases of equipment, contributions towards a college trip to USA, contributions towards costs to enter dancing competitions etc.
The Angie Kirby Day is a celebration of Angie’s life each year on her birthday, 14th May. Aspirations Fostering staff receive an additional day’s holiday and foster carers receive an additional payment.
Jo King was now Fostering Team Manager and Ofsted completed an inspection in March 2019, resulting in an outcome of Good Provider. Mid 2019 and the office was completed and Aspirations Fostering returned to their original office site. Aspirations Fostering staff team grew in line with the number of foster carers and looked after children and one of Angie’s daughters decided to follow in her Mum’s footsteps and become a fully qualified social worker.
Well, where are we now? Aspirations Fostering continues to grow, and we still strive to continue Angie’s wish, of providing children and young people with a safe, stable and nurturing environment when they come into foster care, and that we help them achieve their aspirations.
At this time Aspirations Fostering have provided foster homes for 184 children and young people.