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Giving children a chance to grow
Discover the richly rewarding experience of fostering, says Gloucestershire County Council
If you’ve ever considered whether fostering might be for you, now is the perfect time to reach out and make an enquiry. With unprecedented numbers of local children coming into care, Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) is appealing for more people to apply to become a foster carer and provide these young people with a caring and stable home in which they can grow and thrive.
There are many reasons why children come into foster care. Sometimes they just need a family to stay with short term, while their own families weather a crisis. Other children may not be able to return to their birth families and need foster carers to care for them until they are independent.
In a ground-breaking national collaboration, GCC recently worked with 56 local authorities across England to fund the creation of ‘Childhood’, a video to raise awareness of fostering. The four minute film (see Youtube link, below) highlights the impact of neglect on children, particularly brothers and sisters who may be left at times to try to care for each other. Councillor Stephen Davies, cabinet member for children’s safeguarding and early years, says, “The ‘Childhood’ film is truly touching. Gloucestershire County Council works hard to ensure every child in care is placed with the right family. We particularly need foster carers who can help brothers and sisters stay together. If you have ever considered fostering, I’d urge you to get in touch to find out more – it really is a rewarding job and you have the potential to make so much difference.”
Nikki, a teacher in Gloucester, has been fostering with her husband Gary for GCC since 2009. “If you have the space, we would strongly encourage you to foster brothers and sisters,” she says. “The joy of seeing them thrive together and share the most important memories far outweighs any of the difficulties.”
GCC welcomes enquiries about fostering from all sections of the community, to reflect the differing needs of children in care. You can be single, married, co-habiting, in a same-sex relationship, a homeowner or renting, as long as you are over 21 and have at least one spare room in your house. All foster carers have access to professional training, generous foster carer pay, tax-free allowances, and extensive ongoing local support.
To see if fostering is for you, call GCC for an informal chat on 01242 532654 or complete the fostering enquiry form www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/fostering
Childhood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGWhP7lawS4&t=132s
