FtSE Member News: PACT Ambassador David Akinsanya gets behind PACT's Foster Care Fortnight campaign

Broadcaster, journalist and PACT Ambassador, David Akinsanya is backing PACT's Foster Care Fortnight (13-26 May) campaign.

David grew up in care and spent time in prison but credits his social worker for giving him the determination to turn his life around at the age of 19. He is involved in voluntary work and is passionate about adoption and fostering, and acts as a mentor/respite foster carer for many children and young people in care.

David said: “There are many children around today who have huge potential but have been given a challenging start in life and I have great respect for all the patient and professional social workers, foster carers, adopters and teachers that work to support children who are facing difficult times through no fault of their own. 

“Having been in care, I know only too well how important it is for those who end up being looked after to have kind supportive people in their lives. I urge those with space in their homes and hearts to become foster carers or adoptive parents to help give these youngsters a better start in life. That’s why I’m backing Foster Care Fortnight and charities like PACT.”

PACT is currently recruiting foster carers to help meet the national shortage of 9,000 new fostering families. PACT is running information events for people to find out more about this rewarding vocation. To hear from a PACT foster carer, learn about the support and training on offer, and how to take the next steps to becoming an approved foster carer with PACT, come to one of our Foster Care Fortnight events.

• Thursday 23rd May, 2.30 – 7pm drop in at PACT’s office, No. 9 Southern Court, South Street, Reading
• Wednesday 29th May, 2.30 – 7pm, drop in at Clapham Library, SW4 7DB
• Thursday 30th May, 10.30 – 2pm, Sutton Central Library, SM1 1EA

David will be speaking at PACT’s Adoption & Fostering evening for people from the black and minority ethnic community on

• Monday 17th June, 7 – 8.30pm at The Brix, Brixton, SW2 1JF.

For details of all PACT’s adoption and fostering events including the information afternoon at PACT’s Reading HQ on 23rd May, visit www.pactcharity.org/info.

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