Reimagining Children’s Social Care
By Rachel Cole, 9 October 2026
Fellow's Profile
Rachel Cole
Fellow's Profile
Rachel Cole
Cultural Mentors: A Framework for Culturally Sensitive Support in Care
Fellowship
- Themes
- Focus
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Improving outcomes for Black children in care through culturally responsive mentorship models
- Countries
- Fellowship year
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2025
- Supported by
Contact
Biography
I am CEO and Founder of the Black Foster Carers Alliance (BFCA), a national organisation supporting foster carers and professionals working with Black and racially minoritised children in care. We focus on improving outcomes through cultural competence, identity-affirming practice and accountability. My Fellowship explores global models of cultural mentorship to improve placement stability, wellbeing and identity for Black children in care. I'll visit the USA, Ghana and the Netherlands to learn from community-led approaches that promote belonging and resilience.
As a former foster carer, social worker and advocate, I've seen how the system often fails to meet Black children's cultural needs. This Fellowship is a chance to bring back insight and co-create practical UK solutions. BFCA offers interactive training, transracial placement support, recruitment and assessment of Black carers, and independent investigations into discrimination. We are also developing the Cultural Compass Mark, a national benchmark for culturally responsive care. Our goal: for every Black child in care to feel seen, valued and empowered.
Ideas
Disclaimer
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
Ideas
Reimagining Children’s Social Care
By Rachel Cole, 9 October 2026
Disclaimer
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
