Can you give a child the best start in life? – Foster Care Fortnight starts 14 May
Can you help make a positive life-changing difference to a child in need? Then come along to events in Shrewsbury during Foster Care Fortnight to find out more about fostering.
Shropshire Council’s children’s placement and joint adoption team will have a stand at Sainsbury’s, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury on Tuesday 15 May to Saturday 19 May 2012, and our team will be available all day on Tuesday 15 May through to Thursday 17 May inclusive to talk to applicants interested in fostering. There will also be literature and other information on fostering, including website and Freephone details so people can call in and speak to someone on our Freephone 0800 783 8798.
They will also be taking a stand the following week at Tesco Extra in Harlescott on Friday 25 May and Saturday 26 May, and again would be happy to answer any questions you may have on fostering.
Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s biggest national campaign. Led by Fostering Network, the campaign 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.
Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for adoption and fostering, said:
“Giving a child 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 events to help make a difference and create a better future for Shropshire’s most vulnerable children.”
Shropshire Council’s children’s placement service and joint adoption service 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 and sibling groups. We provide plenty of training beforehand and lots of support after they begin – as well as financial support.
An estimated 8,750 new foster families are needed across the UK in 2012 alone, and ahead of this year’s Foster Care Fortnight, the Fostering Network is urging more people to become foster carers. To encourage more people to become foster carers the Fostering Network has launched the #22minutes campaign. For more information and to watch their inspirational films and blogs from foster carers visit www.22minutes.org.uk.
If you think you could offer a child a home, come and visit us at the supermarkets, or contact the team now on 0800 783 8798 – we would be delighted to hear from you.
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 You Tube here.
