Buckinghamshire County Council marks Foster Care Fortnight with event to encourage more foster carers (15 May 2017)

Buckinghamshire County Council is holding a further fostering session in May to mark Foster Care Fortnight, which runs from 8 to 21 May.

The session will take place on Thursday 18 May, at Aylesbury Opportunities Centre, from 7pm to 8.30pm, where those interested in fostering can speak directly to one of the council’s current foster carers about their experiences, as well as finding out more about the process of becoming a foster carer from the First Step team.

In a statement the council said:

“Thanks to the commitment and hard work of our dedicated network of foster carers in Buckinghamshire, many of our most vulnerable children and young people are able to live stable and supported lives in the comfort of a family home, close to their friends, family and school.

“During Foster Care Fortnight… we are celebrating these men and women, who are proud to support fostering and be a foster carer – and thanking them for choosing to Foster with Bucks.

“Sadly, despite the efforts of our existing foster carers, we still have many more children – particularly teenagers and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children – who are desperately in need of a place they can call home.

“There are not enough foster carers in Buckinghamshire to look after these children and young people in need.”

Interim Director of Children’s Services, Gladys Rhodes-White, added:

“For a child or young person in care, being taken away from their home is a frightening enough prospect – but when they are taken far away from everything they know, including friends, extended family and school, that fear and uncertainty is multiplied.

“However, the reality is that, without enough suitable foster carers locally to look after these children, we have to find homes for them that can sometimes be far away.

“We are appealing to the local people of Buckinghamshire to come forward and to support children from their local community.

“We welcome carers from all different backgrounds and circumstances to match the diverse needs of our young people – so please do not rule yourselves out until you have learnt more about what is involved.”

Bucks Foster Carer Juliet Cleverdon said:

“Fostering can be a challenge – but it is also incredibly rewarding, knowing that you have helped a child or young person during a difficult time.

“As a foster carer with Buckinghamshire County Council, you are always fully supported and only a phone call away from help and guidance when needed.

“I would urge anyone who thinks they may be able to help to pick up the phone now.”

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