FtSE Member News: Barnardo's calls for more Asian families to foster children in Greater Manchester to represent wider diverse population

Children’s charity Barnardo’s is urging more Asian families to foster children across Greater Manchester.

The charity has identified Manchester would most benefit from having more Asian Foster carers.

Last year only four per cent of foster carers in Manchester came from Asian backgrounds, despite that fact 14 per cent of people in the city are Asian.

Charity bosses said it is important a diverse range of foster carers are available to fully represent society.

Barnardo’s chief executive, Javed Khan, said: “Children in Manchester reflect the city’s hugely diverse population.

It’s crucial that we can offer foster care to vulnerable children that is as unique as they are.

Foster caring is an incredibly rewarding experience that can help a vulnerable child and enrich their life when they most need it."

We are urging Asian would-be foster carers to use their unique skills and heritage to help change a vulnerable child’s life for the better.”

Tarah-Joy Baines, Barnardo’s North West senior family placement manager, said: “As society becomes increasingly diverse, the background of those who foster is not.

We want to encourage Asian foster carers to come forward, so that the sector is more representative.

If you think you have the skills necessary to help care for a child, I would urge you to contact your local Barnardo’s foster care team.”

Children may need fostering because their parent is sick, or they may have experienced abuse or neglect.

They often require love, stability and support from foster families.

It comes after the M.E.N revealed hundreds of children in care across Greater Manchester are being moved to new homes almost 30 miles away from their local communities.

The report, published by the Children’s society, found more than a fifth of those being moved far away were only told the day before.

Almost 2,000 youngsters were placed outside their local authority area, the report revealed.
Barnado’s is one of the UK’s leading children’s charities and works with more than 240,000 young people each year.
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The charity runs more than 960 different services across the UK, including counselling for children who have been abused, fostering, adoption services and disability inclusion groups.

Source:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/barnardos-calls-more-asian-families-10325299

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