New 'mockingbird network' launches in Cornwall to boost foster care support
Council says extended-family approach aims to attract more carers as foster numbers fall
Cornwall has launched a new support network in the east of the county, designed to help foster families support each other like an extended family.
The Mockingbird scheme brings several foster households together with a central “hub home,” where carers and children can meet, get advice, and share help.
The move comes as the number of people coming forward to foster is declining across Cornwall and the UK, even as the need for safe homes for children continues to rise.
At any one time, up to forty children in Cornwall are waiting for a foster placement.
The aim is to create stronger community connections and give foster carers the practical support they need, especially on the tougher days.
Cllr Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Schools at Cornwall Council, said: “It’s wonderful to welcome our fourth Mockingbird constellation in Cornwall, and I’m delighted to see the difference the model is making for our fostering families.
“Fostering can be incredibly rewarding, but there can also be difficult days. That’s why Mockingbird works so well. It creates the sense of an extended family, where carers and children share both the highs and the lows, knowing there is always someone to turn to.”
“It’s wonderful to welcome our fourth Mockingbird constellation in Cornwall, and I’m delighted to see the difference the model is making for our fostering families.
“Fostering can be incredibly rewarding, but there can also be difficult days. That’s why Mockingbird works so well. It creates the sense of an extended family, where carers and children share both the highs and the lows, knowing there is always someone to turn to.”
The latest “constellation” was launched with a celebration in Liskeard, with seven foster families and sixteen children.
Tania and Rich, who lead the new hub home, said their focus is on building peer support and a reliable network for carers and children alike.
The council has plans to expand the scheme further with two more constellations planned for 2026 and adding two new liaison workers, to form a dedicated Mockingbird team within the Council’s fostering service.
They hope it means more foster carers will step forward to give children a safe and supportive place to grow up.
If you could offer a child, teenager or siblings a home, call the Fostering South West hub on 0300 456 0120 or to find out more visit the fostering pages on the council's website.