1.1 The credentials of Caring for Children are essentially set out on our official stationery. We are the UK National Section of an international organisation, which was set up in Europe at the end of the Second World War to support staff working with the thousands of children who then had to be cared for outside their familial homes.

1.2 The UK joined FICE at an early stage, but later withdrew over concerns about the management and lack of accountability particularly in financial matters.

1.3 As a result of an initiative largely inspired by Haydn Davies-Jones, formerly of Newcastle University where he was for many years associated with the SCCRYP Course, the UK returned to FICE some ten years ago with Social Care Association as its membership conduit.

1.4 SCA was instrumental in setting up Caring for Children, which was destined to be an SCA Special Interest Group. Unfortunately SCA members decided that international involvement was too costly. Caring for Children was therefore launched to stand alone and has continued as the UK National Section recognised by FICE.

1.5 Several founder members of the Executive Council of FICE UK came to an end of their possible tenure of office in January 1999. The new Council has reviewed the progress which the original Council had made in setting up the new organisation and set some further objectives for the future.

1.6 The first key decision was that CfC is ideally placed to become a non-aligned forum, able to speak out on behalf of children, young people and their carers.

1.7 The second decision is that a start should be made now to draw together ideas about what ought to be included in the next legislation affecting children and their families and/or their carers in order to influence government at an early enough stage to have a real impact.

1.8 CfC Executive Council Members also took a decision not to simply respond to the report of the Waterhouse Enquiry. It was felt that it was to the greater benefit of children and young people to create and maintain an active campaign which keeps issues of training, staff selection, development and supervision and proper resources for both cared for and carers at the top of the political agenda.

 
2.1 FICE has consultative status with UNESCO, UNICEF, ECOSOC and the Council of Europe.

2.2 There are FICE National Sections in most Western European Countries, many former Eastern bloc countries, in North America, Israel and South Africa.

2.3 There are also links with organisations or individuals in India, Japan and Australasia.

2.4 One distinguishing feature of FICE is that it kept links with countries behind the Iron Curtain throughout the Cold War. In more recent years we have heard from colleagues in these countries how important those links were, although as we have also discovered, they were forbidden to have any personal contact with individuals outside of the formal Federal Council Meetings.

2.5 Each National Section has a unique profile, mainly determined by the energy of individuals in a particular country. On the whole most sections have a mixture of organisational and individual members. Some are quite affluent, have offices and paid staff. Others are substantially supported by major agencies or the government of their country. Some FICE Sections are well respected and have significant influence in child care politics in their countries.

2.6 FICE business is conducted by the Federal Council which meets twice a year in the various member countries. Two representatives from each national section can attend and vote on issues discussed. Each National Section reports on its activities and offers other members opportunities to participate in future events. For example the Czech Republic normally invites groups of young people to participate in summer camps. At present Hungary is trying to gain support for a South-East Europe Conference and an associated peace camp for children.

2.7 Normally the section hosting the Federal Council also runs a day seminar to which all child care workers are invited, thereby capitalising on the wealth of talent from the other member countries at very little cost.

2.8 The Executive Committee, consisting of the President, Treasurer and General Secretary meet between the Federal Councils to manage the work and plan ahead.

2.9 The major involvement for members is in the General Assembly held within the
framework of the International Congresses which are held every two years and hosted by different National Sections. The next Congress will be in May 2000 in Maastricht.

2.10 At the General Assembly members vote for the next President, Treasurer and General Secretary. The General Assembly also votes on the admission of new National Sections.

 
3.1 FICE Europe was set up two years ago as a means of attracting money for various FICE initiatives from the European Union. It consists of countries which are members of the Council of Europe. It was also intended to be the European platform enabling FICE International to carry out pioneering work in Africa, Asia and South America, all of which have areas with chaotic conditions for children similar to those which led to the original founding of FICE.

3.2 FICE Eu planned an exciting programme of seminars in member countries. However it was difficult to sustain because each seminar has to be conducted in two of the FICE languages ( French, German or English ) in order to obtain funding.

3.3 At the Federal Council Meeting in Florence in May 1999 it was agreed to hand the management of the FICE Professional Exchange Programme to FICE EU also.

4.1 The Professional Exchange Programme was originally set up as a service by FICE members for FICE members.

4.2 Its purpose is to offer experienced child care workers the opportunity to have a placement in other FICE member countries for up to three months in order to carry out a specific project to further their own professional development.

There will be more information about the re-launch of PEP available to CfC members in the next issue of children.uk.

5.1 This is the most recent FICE initiative which was featured in the first issue of children.uk.

5.2 It is an attempt, based on the Medecins sans Frontieres model, to prepare teams of skilled child care workers to move into crisis areas such as Kosovo or Mozambique and assist local agencies to set up services for children once the initial feeding and housing programmes have been organised.