Change lives at foster care fortnight

Rochdale Council is asking residents to consider fostering, as Foster Care Fortnight is launched nationally on Monday (11 May).

Foster Care Fortnight is an annual campaign to raise awareness of fostering and promote the urgent need to recruit more foster carers. There is currently a shortage of 10,000 foster carers in the UK, with the borough needing at least an additional 80 new ones to foster children on a short term or long term basis.

There are many reasons why children and young people are unable to live with their birth families. For many this is only a short term issue and they do return home once a period of crisis has been resolved. Those who are unable to return home are placed with long term foster carers or are adopted.

There are over 250 children currently living with foster families. These children are all individuals and need to live with foster carers carefully chosen to meet their social, cultural and religious needs.

Steve Titcombe, Head of Children’s Social Care at Rochdale Council said there is always a demand for foster carers in the borough: “Children and young people have far greater life chances if they can have an opportunity to experience the love and security of a family home. Foster carers provide this home environment to children and help them achieve their full potential. We need many new foster carers to meet the needs of its most vulnerable children and we hope to recruit from all sections of the community. Anyone can apply and there are many different ways to become involved - we urge residents to find out more.”

During the two weeks for Foster Care Fortnight, Rochdale’s fostering service will be holding information sessions at various venues where local foster carers will be present so residents can be asked about their experiences. Watch this space for more information.

Rochdale Borough Council’s fostering service was awarded ‘outstanding’ in all areas following an Ofsted inspection.