Calling all potential foster parents in Berks & Hants
It's Foster Care Fortnight and there's an urgent need for people to care for children and young people
Last updated 17th May 2021
People in Berkshire and Hampshire are being asked to consider becoming foster parents.
As part of foster care fortnight there’s a drive on to recruit new foster-carers to try and keep children and young people in the communities where they are from.
In Reading, on average, 270 children and young people are in the care of Brighter Futures for Children’s Independent Fostering Agency.
Staying closer to home means children and younger people in foster care can stay at their school, be near their friends and, if possible, have contact with their family.
Currently there are not enough local foster carers in Reading and other places throughout the region so some young people, like 15-year-old Nick*, have had to move away.
Nick had the idea of planting a cherry blossom tree in central Reading, to help himself and other young people in care to feel ‘rooted’ in the town.
Planted outside Reading Town Hall in February 2020, the Rooted in Reading tree is a powerful symbol of connection for Reading children and young people in care, especially those living further away.
Foster carer Rachel* started fostering last year:
“There's been some challenging times for us, but there's been lots of rewarding times in our fostering journey so far. We're really loving it, although there are times when it is difficult you're learning all the time and you're getting to know the child you're living with and they're getting to know you."
We asked Rachel if she had any regrets about taking on a foster child:
"I think it's incredibly rewarding and we're loving getting to know the child we're looking after, he's a great little guy, and we don't regret what we're doing. It's enriching our lives and we're looking forward to continuing on with our foster journey over the next few years"
Di Smith, Board Chair of Brighter Futures for Children, said:
“We want to keep Reading children in Reading and we need more local people to become foster carers to make that happen.
“I would urge anyone who has thought about foster caring to contact us to find out more. As well as being a rewarding role, our foster carers receive a great package of training and support and become part of a friendly network of fellow carers.”
Brighter Futures for Children staff and foster carers are hosting a stall on Broad Street in Reading on Thursday 20 May and an online information session on Tuesday 25 May at 5.30pm, for people to learn more about fostering. To join and find out how you could help keep a young person, like Nick, rooted in Reading, visit: www.readingfostering.co.uk
*Names have been changed to protect identities.