Berkshire Councils & Stars get in the frame for Foster Care Fortnight

Berkshire Councils & Stars get in the frame for Foster Care Fortnight

02/05/2013
Reading Borough Council Press Release

Berkshire ’s six local authorities are ‘getting in the frame’ for Foster Care Fortnight (May 13th-26th).

Reading Borough Council, Slough Borough Council, West Berkshire Council, the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, Wokingham Borough Council and Bracknell Forest Council are pledging their support to a national campaign to recruit more foster carers to give a home to vulnerable children and young people.

Some of the biggest names from stage, screen and literature have also signed up to this year’s campaign ‘Get in the Frame’, to raise awareness during Foster Care Fortnight, of the need to recruit more foster carers across Berkshire and the UK .

With fostering services across the country needing to recruit 9,000 foster carers in 2013 alone, to provide loving homes and skilled and dedicated care for some of the UK ’s most vulnerable children, it is more important than ever to get in the frame.

Councils across Berkshire are holding information events, throughout Foster Care Fortnight (13th-26th May), providing an ideal opportunity for local people to find out what is involved and ask any questions they may have.

Residents all over Berkshire are encouraging people to think about how they can make a difference to children and young people’s lives.

John Ennis, Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for Education and Children’s Services, said: “Children and young people come in to care for all sorts of reasons – sometimes it’s for a few days, weeks or months. But some children will be looking for a family who they can live with until they are grown up”.

“Councils in Berkshire are working together this Foster Care Fortnight to highlight the different ways people can get in the frame and help make a positive difference to children and young people, by offering them a safe and happy home.”

Lorraine Pascale, spent time in foster care as a child. She has offered her support to this year’s campaign: "I'm putting myself in the frame during the Foster Care Fortnight because I want people to know that great foster carers helped me when I needed someone to be there for me the most.

"Growing up in and around the care system isn't easy. So if you think you can be there for some of the UK 's most vulnerable children then go on, I urge you, put yourself in the frame today and consider being a foster carer."

Foster carers are as different as the children they look after. It doesn’t matter if you are married or single, a home owner or rent your home, gay or heterosexual, religious or non-practising; what matters most is that you are right for the child or children. As long as you have a spare room and are over 21, you can apply to be a foster carer.

If you’ve ever thought about fostering and wondered how you can make a difference to a child or young person’s life, contact your local authority’s family placement service to find out more.

The process is probably much quicker than you think and by May 2014, you could be helping to create a positive future for a child.

You can find out more, visit www.berkshirefostering.co.uk or all (0118) 937 3740.

You can also get in touch through Facebook www.facebook.com/FABerks or Twitter www.twitter.com/FABerks