Fostering barriers debunked as we urge people to come forward
Monday, 27 January 2020
Recent statistics from the Department of Education show that the number of children being taking into care nationally has risen by 4%, so we're urging people to consider becoming foster carers.
Common misconceptions have arisen around whether or not you might be eligible to foster; things like being an LGBTQ family, or a single person, or age being a factor. Even having pets can make people think they might not be suitable, so they never take the next step to research the options.
Read our myth-busting guide to fostering.
Councillor Sue Clark, our Executive Member for Families, Education and Children said:
There are so many myths and misconceptions around who can and can’t foster, and most of them are just that, myths. We’ve set up a new webpage to debunk some of those myths and give people the information they need to make a decision.
We have an amazingly diverse community of foster carers who come from a variety backgrounds andthese wonderful people make our service really special.
Most people don’t realise there are many different schemes for fostering - from caring for children in an emergency, providing a short break for children or offering weekend care on a regular basis.
We are also seeking people to look after children and young people who need more support or long term care through to their independence.The most important thing is that you can give a child a home where they shown love, respect and safety. It’s such a life-changing experience for the children and the foster carers themselves. Many of our foster carers would agree that becoming a foster carer is the best decision they’ve ever made.
If you are wondering whether fostering is for you, or are worried there might be a barrier to you fostering, find out more. You could help children in your community stay local to the people they love and the places they are familiar with.