Bradford Council urges local people to consider becoming a foster carer for local children this Foster Care Fortnight
To mark this year’s Foster Care Fortnight TM Bradford Fostering, part of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, is encouraging people in the area to make a positive lasting difference to children and young people by becoming a foster carer.
Foster Care Fortnight TM runs from 10 to 23 May and is the UK’s largest foster care awareness raising campaign showcasing the positive lasting impact foster care makes on children and young people’s lives.
This year the focus is on encouraging everyone who cares about the lives of children and young people to share #WhyWeCare by taking action and fostering for their local authority. It is estimated that around 1,180 foster families are needed in the Yorkshire and Humber region to support children and young people on a full and part-time basis.
Mark Douglas, Strategic Director Children’s Services, said : “Every child deserves to have a safe, secure, and stable environment to be happy, healthy and achieve their full potential in life and our amazing foster carers make this happen by generously sharing their time, lives, and homes with children and young people whose own families can’t look after them.
“But we urgently need more foster carers for the children and young people in our care, on both a short-term and long-term basis, so we urge anyone who cares to get in touch through our new website and find out how they can become part of our incredible fostering community.”
Every foster carer registered with Bradford Fostering earns an average of £561 per week with generous allowances and tax breaks, receives extensive training, and has access to round-the-clock professional advice and guidance. There is also a vibrant, supportive community of foster carers on hand to share experiences and give support.
Kal and Ash, foster carers with Bradford Fostering, said: “Fostering is the best job you can have, but it is so much more than a job, it involves every aspect of your life and can be exhausting and heart-breaking, so it’s not for everyone. But the rewards are like nothing else so we would encourage people to make that call and find out more. It might change your life for the better like it did for us.”
By fostering directly with the council, all funding can be directly allocated to the local community, rather than lost in costly placements outside the district or out-of-authority care, which has a direct positive impact on local children and young people.
Kevin Williams, Chief Executive of The Fostering Network, said: “Despite the practical and emotional challenges that the pandemic has brought, foster carers have continued to provide day-to-day support, love and stability to children and young people who can’t live with their birth families – and from the bottom of my heart, I thank them.
“Being a foster carer is to take on a role like no other, so if you are looking for a new lifestyle or career in the aftermath of this dreadful pandemic and you believe you have the right skills, I want you to consider becoming a foster carer.”
Anyone interested in finding out more can visit the new Fostering Bradford website at www.fosteringbradford.com and book a call back with a member of the fostering team for an informal conversation about the journey to becoming a foster carer and what to expect.
FOOTNOTE
There are currently over 1300 children in care in the Bradford district. Nearly 800 live with foster carers (both recruited carers and connected carers); others live with their parents or with their adoptive parents; in a purchased foster placement; in children’s homes or in supported accommodation.
Bradford Fostering directly works with over 500 fostering households in and around the Bradford district to look after the district’s most vulnerable children and young people.
Information can be found on the new website: www.fosteringbradford.com/
For press enquiries please contact: press.communications@bradford.gov.uk
Published on PRFIRE