East Riding joins national drive to recruit more foster carers

In October, the Government launched a campaign to recruit more foster carers to create 10,000 new foster homes. The campaign follows a 12 per cent reduction in foster care homes, whilst the number of children needing care has increased.

Councillor Victoria Aitken, cabinet member for children, families and education said: “In East Riding we are bucking the national trend, in that we have seen an increase in the number of people becoming foster carers.

“However, we still need more homes for our children in care and so we are joining the national call for people to consider if they could foster.” There are currently 30 children, aged 0 to 17, who need a foster home in the East Riding. These include children currently placed out of the area, as well as children who are in residential homes.

Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister said: “Fostering changes lives, not just for the children who finally get the stability and love every child deserves, but for the carers themselves, who tell us it’s one of the most rewarding things they’ve ever done.

“Right now, thousands of children need that chance, and that’s exactly what our national campaign is about: cracking fostering open to ordinary people across England who have the values, the commitment, and the love to foster.”

There is no ‘ideal’ type of foster carer, everyone is unique and brings their own individual experience and abilities. The most important attributes are having time, patience, a sense of humour and the ability to love. Foster families come in all shapes and sizes, and people can decide what type of foster caring arrangements would work for them, with different types of fostering to suit different homes, family dynamics and life commitments.

The national campaign is aiming to open up fostering to a wider range of people through encouraging people to consider short break fostering or fostering at weekends.

People who foster for East Riding Fostering receive comprehensive support including their own dedicated social worker to provide practical, emotional and therapeutic support, training and regular social events. There are also local support groups available for foster carers and help for existing children in the family to adapt to fostering.

In addition to financial allowances, families also receive contributions towards equipment, additional money on the child’s birthday and at Christmas.

All members of the household also receive free membership to East Riding leisure centres and there are a number of discounts, special offers and events exclusively for East Riding foster carers. Anyone who is interested in fostering can join the next online event taking place on Tuesday, December 15, 12.30 to 1.30pm, for a welcoming and informative lunchtime chat about fostering with East Riding. Go to eastriding.gov.uk/fostering to register.