Opening your heart and home to foster children
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Published: 15th May 2007 15:58 |
With a national shortage of foster carers, Brent Council is not alone in welcoming Fostering Fortnight (May 14- 27) to highlight the need for more carers in the borough.
There are 406 looked after children in Brent and although many of these are found suitable placements, 95 of these young people are with Brent foster carers.
Every year fostering services in the UK hold events and promote the need for more foster carers in their community as part of Foster Care Fortnight. In the UK there are 50,000 children in foster care and currently there is a shortage of over 10,000 foster carers.
Jan Fishwick, Head of Family Placements says, "We have lots of children who need a safe and supportive home while they can't live with their own families.
"It is important to raise the profile of fostering and this month is an ideal time for people in Brent to find out more about what is involved if they are considering being a carer."
As part of the annual campaign, the council is holding a special information evening at Brent Town Hall from 6:30pm to 8:30pm on May 23.
Two highly experienced foster carers will attend on the night so that contemplating foster carers have the chance to ask any burning questions.
Local carers Peter and Pat Cassidy and Hope Roberts will answer queries from people and can give their personal insight into being a foster carer.
The Cassidy's have been foster carers for eight years and have looked after a staggering 90 children.
Pat says she started being a carer because she struggled growing up herself and is grateful to the people who helped her and the difference they made to her life.
"We are totally dedicated to these children and they leave your home with a little something you have given them."
Pete adds: "We wanted to answer questions for people interested in fostering so we can tell them what it's really like. We were sent a photo of a baby we looked after who has been adopted. He is doing fine and we are over the moon."
Hope has returned to fostering after taking a break and says: "Fostering can be a tough assignment but when you see the child's life turn around, it makes all the hard times worthwhile."
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