Buckinghamshire Council announces enhanced support package for foster carers
New benefits package reflects council's appreciation for foster carers vital role in providing stability and care to vulnerable children.
Buckinghamshire Council has revealed a comprehensive support package for foster carers, a gesture aimed at recognizing and appreciating their invaluable contribution to the community.
The unveiling coincides with Foster Care Fortnight, underscoring the council's commitment to fostering a nurturing environment for children in care.
Natalie Summers, a foster carer with Buckinghamshire Council since October 2022, provided insights into their fostering journey, stating,
"Our journey as foster carers has been incredibly fulfilling yet diverse."
She elaborated on their experiences, saying, "From caring for infants barely three months old to nurturing the spirits of energetic eight-year-olds, each child has brought their own unique story and set of needs into our home."
Natalie emphasized the importance of stability and structure, remarking, "One of the key aspects of our role is providing a sense of stability and routine to children who may have experienced upheaval and uncertainty in their young lives." She added, "Establishing routines for daily activities like meals, bedtime, and schoolwork helps create a sense of security and normalcy for these children, laying the foundation for their emotional and cognitive development."
Reflecting on the rewarding nature of fostering, Summers shared, "It's often the small things that actually end up being the big things.
So when the child comes into your home just sitting at the dinner table and having a meal together... they're having some structure in their lives.
You help them with brushing their teeth and learning to look after themselves, how to have a bath every day and brush their hair, do their reading after school, and it's all those little things that add up to be the big things and give the children some structure and some safety in their lives".
"You do see such a transformation in the children as well, and I think that's a massively rewarding part of being a foster carer is to see the children just flourish when they're with you"
"There's definitely the highs as well as the lows with fostering, but such a privilege to see often children just becoming children again"
"Anyone can be a foster carer, there are no, there's no limitations to it. I think if you've got space in your heart and space in your home then you're ready for fostering".
Anita Cranmer, the cabinet member for children's services education skills, detailed the elements of the new support package.
"We're very excited about them," she expressed. She outlined various benefits, including a retrospective repayment of council tax, enhanced waste collection services, and free access to leisure facilities such as health and fitness memberships and cultural attractions.
Anita also underscored the council's commitment to supporting foster carers amidst the increasing demand for foster homes. "The numbers of children who need care are going up all the time," she lamented, citing a steady rise in the number of children in care in Buckinghamshire. She emphasized the pivotal role of foster carers in providing a nurturing family environment for children in need, while also acknowledging the challenges they face.