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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be pissed of with the incompetence of my LA with regards foster kids and panto tickets

50 replies

elfish · 29/12/2015 22:48

Our LA gave out free pantomime tickets for local kids in care, it was even plugged on the radio that these kids would get an extra christmas present this year.
Lovely gesture, my foster kids were very excited so i duly applied.
Got my tickets today and they are for a matinee performance when the kids are at school.
I called to ask if they could swap the tickets to an evening performance or give permission for the kids to be taken out of school. The answer to both - NO. I cannot swap and cannot under any circumstances take them out of school.
So i have tickets here that cannot be used and some pretty upset children.
Surely they could have sorted evening tickets for the school aged kids, surely they know kids go to school!
I just cannot get my head round their poor management skills.

OP posts:

SorrelForbes · 29/12/2015 23:43

A lot of money? Ha ha ha. I get approx £130 pw allowance for any child I'm fostering. That's to cover all costs and is not a wage!

Mmmmcake123 · 29/12/2015 23:46

Backintherealworld, although on the surface foster carers may seem to get 'a lot of money', there are expenses that are often not considered. The amount is enough everyday but doesn't account for having to buy things such as decent quality brand new shoes and more or less a whole new wardrobe for each child. They may have clothing that is far too small or passed on so many times doesn't work properly e.g. broken zips on jackets. This mounts up considerably if you are buying it all in one go, undies, clothes, jackets, wellies, swimwear, shoes, trainers. Not sure where the theatre ticket money should come from after that!

tethersend · 29/12/2015 23:47

Please contact the virtual head- or should I say, please don't assume that the SW has informed them of the situation. Your children's SW has said no, but some will have said yes and LAC will be missing school to attend the performance. The VH needs to know about this, and at least intervene to stop this happening in the future.

Original poster

elfish · 29/12/2015 23:49

I have taken the looked after children to the pantomime every year, a couple of years we have been lucky enough to get some free tickets other years i have paid as one of their christmas presents, but this year as i was being allocated some free tickets i have spent extra on other presents.

If i pay it will be out of my personal money, not any fostering allowance

I am lucky that my dh has a good job and i also work

OP posts:

LaurieFairyCake · 29/12/2015 23:49

£150 is the entire 'festive' payment - to cover all costs associated with Christmas. All gifts, all extra food, all extra days out to fun things.

£150.

Original poster

elfish · 29/12/2015 23:52

i will contact the virtual head tethersend, your points are very valid. i am not sure there will be anyone around this week but tickets are for later in January anyway so i have a few weeks

I will hang onto my money tomorrow

OP posts:

Original poster

elfish · 29/12/2015 23:53

we don't get a 'festive' payment Laurie, just the usual weekly money

OP posts:

antimatter · 29/12/2015 23:54

post on your local FB group, tweet your MP, you will get response very soon

LaurieFairyCake · 29/12/2015 23:56

Our local authority does for Christmas and birthdays. It helps a bit but of course we spend a lot more than £150 on Christmas

LaurieFairyCake · 29/12/2015 23:57

The op can't post on Facebook. Or contact her mp. Or take the children out of school. Or tell the papers.

There are no options available to her apart from to try to swop the tickets internally

Mmmmcake123 · 29/12/2015 23:57

Paying out of your own money can put very decent carers off continuing to do so, it's so wrong that the children were led to believe they could go and now sw says they can't. Ridiculous that those giving free tickets would not be aware of this.
I do wonder tho that tickets were possibly only available free as they are so off peak and other lac children are not facing opposition re being off school.
Not sure if this helps you in terms of being available to take them if they were allowed. Adverts should have made it clearer. Good luck xx

NewLife4Me · 30/12/2015 00:00

As if foster children haven't been through enough anyway.
I'd be fighting their corner too OP.
This is for the kids and they need to know that people care enough about them.
Think you all do a fine job OP, and kids don't come cheap.
Please don't buy more tickets unless you have to, kick up a fuss until somebody hears you.

bunique · 30/12/2015 00:01

Please don't worry about "putting your head above the parapet" with regards to a complaint. It's a perfectly valid thing to be drawing their attention to!

I would write to the complaints team and just say you were delighted to receive the tickets and the children were very excited but as the tickets you've received are during school hours and you have been advised (you don't need to say by who - this isn't a complaint about the social worker, just the administration, as I see it) that you cannot take the children out of school to attend, could consideration be given to exchanging the tickets for an evening or weekend performance or further discussion be held about a suitable resolution (ie. authorising the children's absence to attend).

It'll be bobbed over to a manager and you should have a response within 10 days hopefully. And not be out of pocket!

(If I get into work next week to find your complaint on my desk I'm going to be kicking myself )

Original poster

elfish · 30/12/2015 00:04

LaurieFairyCake is right, i am even nervous posting anonymously on here.

I am defiantly going to try and swap them with the theatre tomorrow and failing that find out if other lac children are being allowed to go via the virtual school

failing that i will buy some tickets, if any are available at this late date

OP posts:

Original poster

elfish · 30/12/2015 00:07

now that would be funny bunique

OP posts:

ALemonyPea · 30/12/2015 00:08

Just a bought op, have you been given tickets to a relaxed performance? Those are usually school hours. We have the chance every year for some from the NAS but can never justify taking DC out of school for it.

Original poster

elfish · 30/12/2015 00:10

and no i wouldn't be complaining about the social workers, they are great, just the system.
I am sure the social workers get as frustrated as me with things like this and she was only saying what she was supposed to say, lac are not allowed to miss school.

OP posts:

Original poster

elfish · 30/12/2015 00:13

no not a relaxed performance, but as Mmmmcake said i think they were free or very cheap as they were in school time and someone grabbed chance of a bargain without thinking it through.

OP posts:

nancy75 · 30/12/2015 00:44

Before you ring the theatre have a look at the website and see if any evenings have lots of empty seats, if there is a really quiet day ask to swap for that one. Really lay it on thick about the children being in care.

Original poster

elfish · 30/12/2015 09:57

brilliant idea nancy75

OP posts:

FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld · 30/12/2015 10:19

Shut up and fuck off backintherealworld. I hope your tits fall off.

abuhamzamouse · 30/12/2015 10:29

Really hope you get it sorted elfish.

Original poster

elfish · 30/12/2015 18:02

no luck so far, the theatre cannot change them and still waiting to hear back from anyone in the dept

still keeping fingers crossed

will update if we get anywhere

OP posts:

nancy75 · 30/12/2015 18:04

Such a shame, I know theatre tickets are normally not able to be changed but I had hoped in this case they would take pity on you and the kids and do a good thing.

bunique · 05/01/2016 15:22

Did you get anywhere elfish?

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