At Lighthouse Fostering, we are always looking for new and exciting ways to connect with our community and support the children and young people in our care. That's why we are absolutely thrilled to announce the launch of a brand-new project, something created especially for them: the very first editions of the Lighthouse Magazine!
We are delighted to share that these magazines have been printed and sent out, and should be arriving in the homes of our foster families right now. This project is a celebration of creativity, connection, and fun, designed to bring a little extra joy and engagement to our wonderful fostering community.
Two Editions for Our Unique Young People
We understand that a six-year-old and a sixteen-year-old have very different interests. To make sure our new magazine is engaging for everyone, we haven't just created one magazine—we’ve created two distinct first editions, each carefully tailored to a specific age group:
- A vibrant edition for ages 0-11: Packed with colour, creativity, and hands-on fun, this magazine is designed to capture the imagination of our younger children.
- A dynamic edition for ages 12-18: This version has been developed with older readers in mind, featuring content that is relevant, interesting, and speaks to their experiences.
Creating two separate magazines ensures that every child and young person receives something that feels like it was made just for them. It’s another way we strive to provide personal, child-centred support at Lighthouse Fostering.
What’s Inside?
We’ve filled every page of both editions with a fantastic mix of content designed to entertain, inform, and inspire. Our goal was to create a magazine that children and young people would be genuinely excited to read and interact with.
Here’s a sneak peek at what you can find inside:
- Fun and Interesting Articles: From fascinating facts and cool stories to articles about hobbies and wellbeing, there's something to capture every interest. The content is designed to be both enjoyable and educational, sparking curiosity and conversation.
- Exciting Activities and Challenges: We know our creative kids love a good challenge! The magazines are brimming with puzzles, quizzes, craft ideas, and colouring pages. These activities are perfect for a rainy afternoon, a quiet moment of focus, or a fun family activity.
- Updates from Lighthouse: The magazine is a great way for us to share news and updates from the wider Lighthouse Fostering community. It helps young people feel connected to the agency and understand that they are part of a big, supportive family.
- Ideas for Things to Do and Places to Go: Looking for inspiration for the next family day out? We’ve included some great ideas for local attractions and activities, helping families to explore and make new memories together.
This magazine is more than just a publication; it’s a new way for us to communicate, celebrate our young people, and strengthen the bonds of our fostering community.
We Want to Hear From You!
This magazine is for our children and young people, so their opinion is the one that matters most! We see this as a collaborative project, and we are eager to hear what they think. We have asked all our young readers to share their feedback with us.
- What did you love?
- What would you like to see more of?
- Do you have any constructive criticism for us?
All feedback is welcome! Hearing their thoughts will help us make future editions of the Lighthouse Magazine even better.
We also want to see the magazine in action! We have encouraged our children and young people to share pictures of any activities they complete or pages they colour in. There is nothing we would love more than to see our office walls decorated with their amazing artwork and creations. Lookout for a showcase of the children's feedback and completed pictures very soon!
Fostering a Creative and Connected Community
Projects like the Lighthouse Magazine are a reflection of our commitment to fostering with heart. We believe in going beyond the essential requirements of care to create a rich, supportive, and engaging environment where children can thrive.
Initiatives like this help to:
- Build a Sense of Community: By sharing news and celebrating achievements, the magazine reinforces the idea that everyone is part of the wider Lighthouse family.
- Encourage Creativity: Providing fun, creative outlets is essential for a child’s development. It builds confidence, improves problem-solving skills, and offers a healthy way to express emotions.
- Promote Communication: The magazine acts as a new channel for communication, strengthening the connection between the agency, our foster carers, and the children themselves.
- Show We Care: A dedicated magazine sends a powerful message to our young people: you are important, you are valued, and we are thinking of you.
We are so excited about this new venture and have already started planning our next editions based on the wonderful feedback we hope to receive. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making this first edition a reality. We can’t wait to see our creative kids enjoying their brand-new Lighthouse Magazine!