What we can achieve by working together

This evening, as colleagues across Progress light candles and clay lamps to mark Diwali, we pause to reflect on what this festival of lights represents, and what its message of renewal, hope and togetherness offers us as a team. Falling this year on Monday 20 October, Diwali marks the Amavasya, or darkest night, of the...

At this year’s Progress Superstar Awards, Jackie, Registered Manager at Nightingale House, Progress Adult Services, received the Inspirational Leadership Award. This award celebrates people who lead not just with skill, but with heart. It honours those who support others, build trust and quietly help their teams to shine. For Managing Director Claire Rogers, who judged...

At this year’s Progress Superstar Awards, Becky, a team member at Stourbridge House, was recognised for her exceptional commitment to children and young people, receiving the Going Above and Beyond Award. Becky’s colleagues described her as “inspirational”, praising the way she goes the extra mile to make every child feel special. From thoughtful touches to...

The fostering team’s duo of Carla and Jo was recognised for its outstanding contribution to the organisation, winning the prestigious Making a Difference Award at this year’s Progress Annual Superstar Awards. The award was presented to Carla and Jo for their exceptional impact on Progress foster carers and the wider Progress social work team. Presenting the award,...

Progress is delighted to announce that our Annual Conference will take place next week, Tuesday 7 October 2025, bringing together staff from across the organisation for a day of learning, connection, and celebration. The conference is one of the most important events in the Progress calendar. It provides an opportunity to reflect on achievements, share...

When children come into care, they often lose so much at once. Their home, their daily routines, sometimes even their sense of who they are. In the middle of that upheaval, one relationship can make all the difference: the bond they share with their brothers and sisters.  Carla, who works therapeutically with children and foster...

When you choose to foster, you open your home and heart to a child who needs you. At Progress we know that caring for others takes strength, patience and a lot of energy. That is why we believe it is just as important to look after you. One of the ways we do this is...

“We’d got into a rut,” Sylvia reflects. “You get older, you’re on your iPad and he’s on his. Fostering pulled us back together. We’ve had to work as a team again.”   When Sylvia first thought about fostering, she was barely 18. Life carried her in different directions, but the idea never really went away. Years...

This month, our foster carer in the spotlight is Linda. Watch her videos here. “Linda has been a foster carer with us for over 10 years,” says Progress Fostering Manager, Michelle Earp. “Throughout that time, she has given her young person, placed with her at just five years old, an incredible sense of stability and...

For many families, the start of a new school year carries a mix of excitement and nerves. Fresh uniforms, sharpened pencils and the promise of a new chapter can be uplifting. Yet for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), that transition often feels heavier. The return to structure, new classrooms, unfamiliar...