Can you give a child the best start in life?
Can you help make a world of difference to a child in need? Then come along to the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury during Foster Care Fortnight (Monday 16 May to Sunday 29 May 2011) to find out more about fostering.
Starting this week, Shropshire Council’s children’s placement service will be hosting an information and advisory event from 16 May to 27 May 2011 to encourage local residents to get behind fostering and support children in care.
Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s biggest national campaign that aims to raise awareness of fostering and to recruit more foster carers. This year’s theme,Fostering: a Time to Care, aims to encourage a diverse range of people with the right skills and qualities to foster to come forward to meet the needs of children in care.
Nationally there is a shortage of at least 10,000 foster carers across the UK, at a time when more and more children are entering the care system. An extra 3,700 children needed a foster family in 2010 compared with 2009.
Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member, Councillor Ann Hartley, said:
“Foster caring is incredibly rewarding. Giving a child the support, care and security really helps to provide them with a firm foundation and better start in life. We are very proud in Shropshire to have one of the best records in the country at finding suitable homes that will give a child or young person the very best start in life while they are unable to live with their own families. However, when foster carers retire we need to replace them urgently so I really urge people to come forward and drop in at our event in the Darwin Centre to help make a difference and create a better future for Shropshire’s most vulnerable children.”
Chris Dennison, service manager for Shropshire Council’s children’s placement service, also explained:
“We always need around 20 new fostering households throughout Shropshire to replace retiring foster carers, and anyone – from any walk of life – who feels they have something to offer a child or young person should get in touch for more information. We particularly welcome applicants looking to foster 12+ age range. We provide plenty of training beforehand, and lots of support after they begin – as well as financial support.”
If you think you could offer a child a home, come and visit us at the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury during Foster Care Fortnight (16 -27 May), or contact the team now on 0800 783 8798 anytime between 10am and 4pm – we would be delighted to hear from you.
Anyone can apply to become a foster carer, whether they are married, single, a homeowner, renting, employed, or unemployed. All you need is the time and space to foster a child in your own home.
To find out more about what it’s like to foster a child, a film on the life as a foster carer, featuring other foster carers from around the county, is now available on YouTube
