How our child-led approach sets Apex apart as a UK fostering agency

Apex Fostering at the CYP Now Awards 2025

Last night, Apex Fostering proudly attended the Children and Young People Now Awards 2025, where our project Not Just Heard – Empowered was shortlisted for The Children in Care Award. Seeing our name appear during the finalist announcements was a powerful and emotional moment, and a reflection of how far our carers, staff, and young people have come.

We didn’t take home the trophy, but we left feeling inspired and incredibly proud.

Being shortlisted for the core of our agency: Child-Centredness 

For the last 18 months, Apex has embedded a co-created, child-led model across every part of our practice. This approach means young people help shape:

• The questions we ask prospective foster carers

• The language and tools we use to welcome new children

• Training topics for staff and carers

• Resources like our animated welcome video and personalised boxes
  

Our young people told us what they needed. And we listened.

“Being Child-Centred is our core value, and this recognition showcase all the hard work from our carers, team, and the young people themselves who put into words how we can better support them. This award recognizes that being child-centred is not something we just do, it is something we are.”  Sali Walker, Founder of Apex Fostering

A community that makes it possible

This recognition wouldn’t be possible without the incredible commitment of our team and foster carers. Every Apex staff member, from social workers to admin, contributes to a culture of centering the young people as co-creators of their care journey. 

Our foster carers are the heartbeat of this work. They create safe, nurturing homes where children feel seen, heard, and understood. Their willingness to embrace a truly child-led approach is what makes this UK fostering agency so different, and so effective.

Thank you. We see you, and we value you, always. 

Celebrating change-makers across the UK

We also want to thank the CYP Now Awards organisers and judges for highlighting our work, and for curating an event filled with incredible projects. Throughout the evening, we connected with people tackling urgent issues across the sector; from supporting young people in court, to reducing youth violence, to using comics as tools for expression.

It reminded us that we’re not alone. We’re part of a national community working to improve life for children in and outside of care.

“Seeing so many impactful projects across the UK being represented in one room boosted our motivation significantly. The last 18 months, we have been working hard to deepen and strengthen our work as a child-centred agency, and seeing so many people committed to doing work for UK youth inspired us further. We hope to work with some of these projects more in the future as well.”  Ezra Fyrand, Creative & Marketing Manager, Apex Fostering

Why recognition like this matters

This nomination is more than a milestone. It’s validation that ethical, innovative fostering is possible. It helps us attract carers who want to make a real difference, and it shows that when you put children’s voices first, everyone benefits.

Being a finalist is a reminder: we’re on the right path. But there’s still more to do. We talk more about what we continue to do to build Apex as a child-led agency in our recent episode of 'On The Sofa With Sal." In the interview, we discuss our recently conducted internal report on young people's participation in the agency.

Join us in creating the future of fostering

To every supporter, carer, child, and team member: thank you. You’ve helped build something truly special.

And to those who are thinking about fostering: we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re exploring the idea or are ready to take the first step, we’re here to walk with you. If you know someone who’d be a great foster carer, you can refer them to us and receive a £2000 thank you gift when the carers are approved. 

When you foster with Apex, you’re not just joining a fostering agency. You’re becoming part of a community where young people’s voices are heard, empowered, and wanted.

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