Ten years of support for foster families in Stockport
Stockport Council’s fostering service has marked the 10th anniversary of its Mockingbird programme, a peer-led model that aims to give children in care the sort of extended-family support most of us take for granted. Launched after a successful pilot in 2015, the scheme is now one of the longer-running Mockingbird programmes in the country and plays a central role in the borough’s care offer.
Mockingbird, developed by The Fostering Network, is an evidence-based approach that organises foster families into local hubs supported by a central hub carer. It focuses on strengthening relationships between children, young people and foster carers and creating a resilient, mutually supportive community.
How the scheme looks in Stockport
As it reaches its tenth birthday, Stockport’s Mockingbird programme consists of five hubs supporting almost 50 local families. The service reported that, over the past 12 months, it delivered more than 1,000 hours of daytime support and at least 300 occasions of overnight help to carers.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Hubs | 5 |
| Families supported | Nearly 50 |
| Daytime support (last 12 months) | Over 1,000 hours |
| Overnight support (last 12 months) | At least 300 instances |
Celebration marked in Brinnington
Families and foster carers gathered in Brinnington for a birthday event to mark the milestone. The celebration brought together children and carers from across the borough; the event programme included communal singing — with the group joining in on The Beatles’ classic “All You Need Is Love”.
The scheme’s supporters say Mockingbird provides stability and a sense of belonging for looked-after children, while also giving foster carers space to share experience, access practical support and feel less isolated. For many carers, the hubs act as a safety net during stressful periods and offer practical respite when needed.
“We are extremely proud of our Mockingbird scheme here in Stockport and we recognise the importance of having this invaluable support network available for all our local foster carers and their families. The fosters carers at the centre of our Mockingbird hubs are like the glue that hold a family together, and their dedication and commitment make such a positive difference to a local child’s or young person’s life.”
The comment came from Cllr Colin MacAlister, Stockport’s Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, who highlighted the vital role carers play in the borough’s provision for vulnerable children.
Council appeal as demand grows
Alongside the celebrations, the council issued an urgent appeal for more local foster carers. Stockport needs carers able to offer loving, safe homes — and there is a particular emphasis on those who can keep brother and sister groups together. Keeping siblings in the same household is widely recognised as beneficial to children’s welfare, and the council is seeking to expand the pool of carers who can meet that need.
- Mockingbird hubs provide peer support and planned respite for foster families.
- Stockport’s programme has been running since 2015 and expanded to five hubs.
- The council is actively recruiting foster carers, with a focus on placements for siblings.
For Stockport residents, the anniversary is a reminder of how local systems of care can be strengthened by community-based approaches rather than relying solely on formal services. The council’s call for more foster carers underlines that, despite the progress represented by Mockingbird’s growth, demand for placements and practical support remains high.
Further details about becoming a foster carer in Stockport, or finding out more about the Mockingbird hubs, are available via the council’s fostering service.
