Need for foster carers highlighted
By Martin Chapman on Wednesday, 12th May 2004.
National fostering fortnight which launched yesterday, is being used by Suffolk County Council to renew its calls to recruit more foster carers.
More than 4000 children across Britain are waiting for foster homes and in Suffolk, the council urgently requires around 100 more carers.
A number of initiatives have been launched in the past few years by the county council to reduce the level of children in care. So far the number has been successful reduced from nearly 750 to well under 700. The reduction of almost 10 percent is a big boost after several years where the figure has been growing.
Thanks to local media coverage of the need for carers, over the past year the council has seen an 80 per cent increase in fostering enquiries, however despite this success the number of Suffolk children awaiting foster carers is still very high and at least 100 more carers are needed.
Children awaiting foster care range from toddlers to teenagers many are part of a sibling group, some are disabled, and they all need care and security to help them achieve their full potential.
The councils current carers believe the rewards of fostering are high job satisfaction, love, a bigger circle of friends and qualifications. Fostering has changed these days there is a great deal of support and training available.
Jo Plumridge has been a foster carer for in Suffolk for a number of years. She said: It provides a challenge and you really see the rewards at the end of the day - taking a child into your home when there is no-one to look after them and then seeing them become secure and happy. Ive also had the opportunity to train for qualifications. I love what I do.
Tony Lewis, responsible for children and young people at the county council said: [We] are seeing more interest in fostering thanks to greater awareness of the need for foster carers and the rewards it can bring. But there are always children in need of care and we are always pleased to hear from potential foster carers.
If you have time and space in your home that you can offer, you may well be just who we are looking for and it will take very little of your time to find out what's involved. Please make National Foster Care Fortnight the time to find out more about giving a child a home and help us give these children the life they deserve.
More than 4000 children across Britain are waiting for foster homes and in Suffolk, the council urgently requires around 100 more carers.
A number of initiatives have been launched in the past few years by the county council to reduce the level of children in care. So far the number has been successful reduced from nearly 750 to well under 700. The reduction of almost 10 percent is a big boost after several years where the figure has been growing.
Thanks to local media coverage of the need for carers, over the past year the council has seen an 80 per cent increase in fostering enquiries, however despite this success the number of Suffolk children awaiting foster carers is still very high and at least 100 more carers are needed.
Children awaiting foster care range from toddlers to teenagers many are part of a sibling group, some are disabled, and they all need care and security to help them achieve their full potential.
The councils current carers believe the rewards of fostering are high job satisfaction, love, a bigger circle of friends and qualifications. Fostering has changed these days there is a great deal of support and training available.
Jo Plumridge has been a foster carer for in Suffolk for a number of years. She said: It provides a challenge and you really see the rewards at the end of the day - taking a child into your home when there is no-one to look after them and then seeing them become secure and happy. Ive also had the opportunity to train for qualifications. I love what I do.
Tony Lewis, responsible for children and young people at the county council said: [We] are seeing more interest in fostering thanks to greater awareness of the need for foster carers and the rewards it can bring. But there are always children in need of care and we are always pleased to hear from potential foster carers.
If you have time and space in your home that you can offer, you may well be just who we are looking for and it will take very little of your time to find out what's involved. Please make National Foster Care Fortnight the time to find out more about giving a child a home and help us give these children the life they deserve.
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