Questions to Ask Yourself Before Fostering a Child

November 18th, 2011

 

If you are thinking about whether fostering a child is for you, then there are a few questions you should ask yourself. Needless to say, it is a big decision and it is important to know if you have the required qualities to succeed.

The below list is taken from Fostering People Ireland, who are a non-statutory agency primariliy concerned with providing foster care in Dublin for children and young people.

About you

  • I am over 25 years old
  • I enjoy living or working with children and young people
  • I am very honest with myself and others
  • I am able to adapt my current lifestyle and routines to accommodate a child or young person’s needs
  • I understand that a child will show their distress through their behaviour
  • I am resilient and will see things through, even when the going gets tough
  • I can put a child or young person’s needs before my own
  • I think my expectations are realistic
  • I like working as part of a team
  • I’ve had a few knocks in life but have survived!
  • I am in good physical and emotional health
  • I have an ability to stand back and reflect
  • I have a good sense of humour
  • I don’t have any major unresolved issues in my life
  • The thought of temper tantrums, swearing, mood swings, loud music, defiance, the joys of adolescence and a lot more doesn’t put me off!

Your Circumstances

  • I am able to commit to fostering on a full-time basis (See the Fostering and work section below for further information)
  • I have a spare room which can be made pleasant for a child or young person
  • My home is clean and comfortable
  • I have access to transport
  • I have a good network of people around me to provide encouragement and support
  • If I have a partner or other people in my household, they are on board

Fostering can be demanding, and it is important to have a good support network of family and friends. Some agencies, such as Fostering People, also provide support, including a dedicated Social Worker.

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Unusual Museums in New York

November 10th, 2011

Some of New York’s many museums are world famous. Some however are much less well known, but definitely still worth a visit.

There is an old joke, it tells of a young person on a New York City pavement asking an old man “Excuse me sir, can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?”, “Practice” replies the old man. For generations of performers playing at Carnegie Hall was seen as being the acme of achievement.  The Carnegie Hall/Rose Museum celebrates some of those that made it. Leonard Bernstein, Marlon Brando and the Beatles are all memorialised here.

It is unusual to find a major museum floating in the Hudson river. That is however exactly where you will find the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. It is house, you see, on the decommissioned aircraft carrier The Intrepid. This huge ship is 900ft in length and weighs in at over 40,000 tons. She saw service from World War II until 1974.

Exhibits on show in the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum include a variety of aircraft. Included among them is a Lockheed A-12 Blackbird, which is the fastest aircraft ever built. There are also interactive rides and simulators that make this a very exciting place to visit. Along with the aircraft carrier there are two other former military ships that make up the museum. There is the USS Edison, which has been restored to look as it would while it was in service, and the USS Growler. The Growler is unique in that it is the only strategic missile submarine that has ever been opened to the public anywhere in the world.

Brave men and women in uniform are also celebrated at the New York City Police Museum. The NYPD is the world’s largest police department, and as such has passed into legend. Though the NYPD are the subject of uncountable films and TV shows, the museum offers a rare glimpse at the reality behind the mythos.

Along with the police, firefighters in New York are idolised as heroes. This goes back to the very origin of the department’s activities, when large crowds would gather to watch them put out fires. In fact the origin of the word “buff” to describe an expert dates back to this, as the firefighters would wear thick fire retardant buffalo hide jackets – they were experts at putting out fires and the term spread to other kinds of experts. Of course there is a museum dedicated to them, the New York City Fire Museum. Smaller than the police museum it is ideal for a quick visit and the chance to chat with the off duty fire-fighters who staff it.

Being inside one of the world’s largest city you could be excused for thinking that the natural world is very far away. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden puts the lie to that however. 52 acres of plants from around the globe are on display, and the tranquil gardens make a delightful contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city.

With flights to New York currently representing value for money, now is the ideal time to think about making a trip to the Big Apple.

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What to Look For in a Business Bank Account

November 9th, 2011

Business accounts offer an array of different options; though what should you really look for in a business account and what should you disregard?

Business accounts are easy to open, most banks will offer them free for a period and they are essential in keeping accountable for the costs and the payments into a business. So, we have decided to advise you on what to look for when opening a business account.

Like with most financial decisions a good close look at your finances and what you need will determine what you should go for when it comes to a business account. There are more types of business accounts than there are banks out there with many not charging on services for 2 years and some not at all.

All the banks have different costs however when it comes to interest and some of the more abnormal transactions and knowing if you will use any of these and which ones you will use will mean that you can then choose which account is the cheapest in the long run. Opening an account for your transactions and also to save your tax in has the added bonus of allowing you to earn interest on the tax money you are saving for the end of the year. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/article-1585158/Choosing-a-bank-account.html

Bank safety is also a necessity and many of the banks have really been pushing bank security in recent months, offering downloadable software and handing out key cards and other fraud prevention mechanisms. Check out comparison sites to see which bank offers the greatest fraud prevention and be sure you are banking safely.

Most banks offer Internet banking. This can be a speedy and time saving asset to have in a bank. Firstly check out whether your bank has Internet baking and secondly look into how much of your banking you can do online and save time on going to the bank itself.

If you do need to go to the bank, check the satisfaction ratings for banks online and see which banks offer you the best service if you are to visit. Short waiting times, personal service and a host of other things make the whole banking process easier should you need to go to the bank.

Banks often offer help for people opening businesses and will encourage you to give them a business plan before you open up the account. This business plan will allow both of you to see where the business is going and what needs it may have financially. A good bank with a good business advisor can help you and offer you options on what is best to help your business to grow.

Banking for business is an essential and you would be surprised at the different levels of service there are out there for a new business. Looking into the choice of banks and the choice of business banking types can mean a cheaper and more satisfying service for your business.

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