A career that changes lives
A national recruitment campaign to encourage people to consider a career in fostering is being supported by Warwickshire County Council.
Foster Care Fortnight is co-ordinated by UK charity the Fostering Network and runs from 17 to 30 May 2010. The campaign aims to raise awareness of fostering and asks people to look at the skills and qualities they have which could make them a great carer.
Depending on the needs of children, foster care placements can range from just one weekend a month to others that last for many years. As a result, the county’s council’s fostering service believes that there are many people with the potential to perform this worthwhile and vital role.
In Warwickshire, carers currently provide homes for over 500 youngsters but the fostering team is looking for more people with the qualities required to look after and support children and young people from different backgrounds. They are particularly interested in talking to families able to offer permanent care and provide homes for teenagers.
Sylvia Vickers from Warwickshire Fostering Service explains: “Within Warwickshire and across the UK, more foster carers are needed to provide children with safe and caring homes while they are unable to live with their own families. To become a carer what matters most is time, space, commitment, patience, a caring nature and skills to work with children and their families.”
Breda Williams and husband David from North Warwickshire started foster caring ten years ago when they became permanent carers to two siblings placed with them by the team.
Talking about her experiences she said: “As foster carers we have found trust, consistency, security and time to be amongst the most important things we can offer the children in our care.
“The young people who come into your family are often vulnerable so carers need to be prepared to offer a lot of love, reassurance and support.
“When considering different fostering options my husband and I chose to be permanent carers as we wanted to offer long term stability and have the chance to watch our girls grow into the successful young adults they are today.
“There have been many happy experiences over the last ten years. It has been turbulent at times, and we have faced many challenges which we have tackled as a family and come out stronger. Being a permanent carer requires a lot of dedication and commitment, but with an open mind, patience, and a will to make a difference, it is an enormously rewarding experience.”
Coinciding with the fortnight, staff from Warwickshire Fostering Service will be out and about around the county over the coming weeks to highlight the different fostering options suited to a wide range of people.
The events will provide an opportunity for members of the public to meet existing foster carers and learn more about this rewarding and life changing career as well as the benefits and responsibilities involved in being a foster carer.
Members of the team will be on hand with friendly, informal advice at events on:
Friday 21 May from 12.30pm-3pm at The Clock Towers Shopping Centre in Rugby town centre.
Friday 28 May from 9am-5pm at Rope Walk Shopping Centre in Nuneaton town centre.
Bank Holiday Monday 31 May from 12pm-4pm - Southam Carnival, Southam Recreation Ground.
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 June from 11am-5pm – Leamington Peace Festival, Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa.
Saturday 5 June from 12pm-4pm - Atherstone Funday and Carnival - Market Square, Atherstone.
Full training and support is given to carers, who are matched to one of the six different schemes, depending on what suits them best. Carers are paid an allowance that reflects the real cost of looking after a child.
If you are interested but cannot attend event please contact the team on 0800 4081556 or visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fostering
For more information about Foster Care Fortnight and the Fostering Network please visit http://www.fostering.net