Starfish Soul Care
Starfish Soul Care is a project of Penuel Children's Foundation based in Northern Ireland.
About the project
Starfish Soul care began as a pilot project in April 2022 with the aim to provide physical, emotional and spiritual, rest, support and nurture to foster and adoptive families. We provide 'soul care' retreats including day retreats and residential weekends for families in Northern Ireland. Our retreats are bespoke and therapeutic with the hope that all foster and adoptive families feel welcome and included, whatever their make-up and wherever they are on their journey. We operate from an inter-denominational Christian ethos but families from all religious backgrounds (or none) are welcomed. Starfish Soul Care became and official project of Penuel Children's foundation in Dec 2022 and had a public launch in Belfast in November 2023.
Soul Care Retreats
Our ‘Soul Care Retreats’ offer the following:
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A secure, warm, welcoming, friendly, family-focused, homely environment with an inter-denominational Christian ethos.
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Holistic care for entire families, including fostered, adopted and birth children, aimed at helping families to experience physical, emotional, social and spiritual health and well-being as family units, while strengthening attachments and building up familial resilience. We also offer support to families when foster placements have ended.
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A dedicated team of volunteers, to care for and encourage our families in separate parent/carer, youth and children’s programmes including individualised support for those who need it. Our volunteer team includes qualified therapists, child and youth workers, spiritual directors, and other experienced professionals, foster carers and adopters.
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Opportunities for families to meet and befriend other families at different stages of their fostering/adoptive journeys.
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‘Soft’ family support including networking and signposting to a wide variety of other agencies and organisations offering support to foster and adoptive families.
Starfish journey so far..
Comments
Adoptive parent
The volunteers created a relaxed, welcoming environment where everyone felt comfortable and safe
Starfish Child
Starfish Volunteer
I had good sleeps and dreams (at the castle)
At the last two retreats I’ve seen the power of bringing the parents together and giving them the time and safe space to support each other. I’ve seen the strength of them sharing