FtSE Member News: Community Foster Care - Latest Budget cuts will affect most vulnerable children

The recent announcement by the Government of the need for further savings and the likely impact that will have on local authorities raises real concerns about services for children.

Our councils are already having to balance the needs of the most vulnerable children against a declining income base because of a cash squeeze from Westminster.

While understanding the need to balance the books, it’s time to say ‘enough is enough’.

Children’s Centres are under threat, support services face an uncertain future and fostering services are stretched to the limit.

Our charities, Community Foster Care and Community Family Care, work with the most vulnerable children and the demand for our services shows no sign of reducing – quite the opposite.

So yes, let’s balance the books. But let’s not forget that a child who gets crushed in a poorly resourced care system today risks becoming a greater burden on the public purse tomorrow.

In the meantime, the demand for foster carers increases and the search for new carers is relentless. We would therefore encourage anyone who may be considering this most rewarding of careers, to come forward.

There are hundreds of children out there today who need your help. Given the Chancellor’s Budget announcements, there will be a lot more tomorrow. 

Hugh Pelham
chief executive
Community Foster Care
Staunton

Source:
http://www.communityfostercare.co.uk/news-and-events/news/1261/latest-budget-cuts-will-affect-most-vulnerable-children-gloucestershire-echo

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