A foster carer has hailed the “invaluable” support offered by a unique fostering initiative that has just marked a decade of empowering families across Leeds.
Launched in 2015, the Mockingbird Hub model connects foster families with a seasoned foster carer—known as a “hub home carer”—who offers vital guidance, emotional support, and practical help to both carers and children as they adjust to life together.
Originally developed in Seattle, USA, the Mockingbird model found early champions in Leeds City Council. Today, Leeds proudly hosts the UK’s largest and most established Mockingbird network, setting a benchmark for fostering support nationwide.
Michelle Raw, of Whinmoor, has been a hub home carer for the past six years, having fostered children with husband Mark, for 21 years.
She supports eight families - most of whom are ‘kinship carers,’ where relatives or close friends step in to care for children who are unable to remain living with their parents.
She said: “The mockingbird hub model is amazing – it acts just like an extended family.
“I help provide practical support as well as just having a cuppa and chat about the day with carers. Carers come to my house, we might do a bit of training, have a chat about life, they meet other carers and get to know each other and the children get to know each other and play together.
“It feels like we become part of their family and they become part of ours.”
As the hub home carer, Michelle provides support in a variety of ways – such as hosting coffee mornings, supporting with any appointments, holding activity days in school holidays and looking after children for overnight stays or weekends.
She added: “The hubs are vital for both carers and the children because everyone needs that connection and bit of help and time to recharge their batteries.
“It’s the most amazing model, it works really well.
“I work really closely with our supervising social worker from Foster 4 Leeds to support our families too. I speak to her three or four times a week and if I ever need help with anything, she’s there.”
Leeds is home to nine thriving Mockingbird hubs—with a tenth on the way—each playing a vital role in supporting foster families across the city.
To mark the network’s 10-year milestone, families from all hubs recently gathered for a celebration. This also coincided with Foster Care Fortnight (May 12–25), which this year highlights “The Power of Relationships”—a theme that perfectly reflects the heart of the Mockingbird model.
Mockingbird is just one of the many ways Foster 4 Leeds supports over 400 fostering placements and 350 children living with kinship or connected carers. The service also provides high-quality social work support, training, and a year-round calendar of enrichment activities and family events.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, who attended the anniversary event at Herd Farm, said: “We’re absolutely committed to supporting all our carers and it’s great to see and hear how valuable these mockingbird hubs have been for our families over the past ten years.
“I’d like to thank all who have contributed to their success – with particular thanks, once again, to our amazing foster and kinship carers who play such a vital role in transforming the lives of our children looked after.
“Celebrating our mockingbird hubs during Foster Carer Fortnight and its theme of relationships feels particularly timely. Relationships are the golden thread that run through every fostering story - but we urgently need more foster carers who can invest in these relationships and offer a stable, home environment to allow children to grow and thrive.”
Image credit: Leeds City Council
