FtSE Member News: Barnardo’s -Foster carers: Help give children 8,370 loving homes

With 8, 370 loving homes desperately needed by vulnerable children across the UK, Barnardo’s is asking would-be foster carers with love to give to come forward & offer children a stable home as part of Foster Care Fortnight 1– 14 June (1).

Since 2010, the number of vulnerable children coming into care across the UK has risen by 8% (2). It’s estimated by the Fostering Network that 8,370 foster carers are needed around the UK. Without enough stable and caring foster homes to place these children in, they risk being moved around or not being placed in the family that is best for them. Meanwhile siblings often risk being split up.

The charity is urging would-be foster carers to sign up and reap the rewards of giving these overlooked children a loving home, as part of the ‘Foster Care Fortnight’nationwide recruitment drive by the Fostering Network.

With same-sex adopting and fostering couples reaching record highs this year, Barnardo’s is calling on carers from every walk of life to come forward.  The charity particularly specialises in placing children from diverse backgrounds in loving foster homes, which will help change their life for the better.

Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan comments:

“We believe that good and loving foster care is crucial to giving vulnerable children the happy home they so desperately need and deserve. However too many may never experience the stability and care so many of us take for granted because there simply aren’t enough foster carers to meet these children’s needs.

“Single or in a couple, black or white, same-sex or heterosexual; we are asking would-be carers from all walks of life who have love to give to come forward and provide homes for these youngsters.”

Barnardo’s is reaching out to carers who want to provide homes for older children, siblings, and disabled children, for whom the need for loving foster homes is particularly acute.

Pioneers of modern day fostering, Barnardo’s first placed children in family settings more than one hundred years ago. Today the charity is urgently calling for foster carers who will look after children for either short breaks of just a few weeks, a number of years, or until they reach adulthood.

Barnardo’s guides foster carers through a detailed matching process and provides ongoing support. The charity also runs parenting courses that prepare foster carers for the process and equip them with the skills to provide support, love and encouragement to some of the UK’s most vulnerable children. This support ensure that foster carers will never ‘go it alone’.

Foster carers come from all walks of life and you don’t have to come from a childcare profession to foster children.

Source:
http://www.barnardos.org.uk/news/Foster_carers_Help_give_children_8370_loving_homes/latest-news.htm?ref=104977

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