Wiltshire urged to help keep brothers and sisters living together
The council's calling for more of us to become foster carers
We're being asked to help keep brothers and sisters living together in Wiltshire by becoming a foster care.
There's growing need for carers across the county with the council aiming to house siblings in the same home.
Two foster carers have shared their experiences of fostering siblings.
Selina and Justin have fostered with Wiltshire Council for seven years, caring for single children and brothers and sisters.
"I had a fantastic childhood and thought it would be really nice to give something back with the experience I had," Selina said.
Their children had recently moved out of the home, meaning the couple had spare rooms.
"We thought we would try fostering. I made a call and went to one of the information evenings and we got lots of information."
They went to an information evening in January and by August, their foster carer journey had begun. And they haven't looked back.
They're caring for two siblings at the moment and have noticed the impact having a family member with them can have on a child being fostered.
"It’s lovely for them because they have each other and still have that family connection. They can comfort each other at times. I would say you have to remember although they come as a pair, they are also individual people. They have their own personalities.
"It’s lovely they have each other as it’s like they are still living in a family as there are the two of them and us. It’s great to see them doing things together. They have each other and although they’ve been put into care away from their families, they also have a family member with them," Selina said.
Another foster couple is Hannah and Craig, who've been fostering with the council since 2021.
"We initially fostered single children but then we were asked to consider two children who were arriving in an emergency. We only have one spare bedroom, but the need was so great that the children could share to keep them together," Hannah said.
She added: "I know I'd want to live with my sister or brother no matter what, if I had been placed in care. Moving on your own as a child to live with absolute strangers is intense and having your brother or sister with you as this happens is positive."
Hannah said help is always available.
"There is always training on offer. The children have their own social worker, and we have our own fostering social worker, so we have someone we can always call and talk to and get advice from and email.”
Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “We always need more foster carers to come and foster with us here at Wiltshire Council. We provide you with ongoing support and training so you’re not alone. We have carers who have taken that step and recount positive experiences which show how rewarding it can be.
“Fostering with your local council means all money goes into fostering. We make sure you have good support and training and our payments to our foster carers reflect the importance we place on this role. We would love people who want to know more to come and talk to us without any obligation.”
Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer can join one of the regular online sessions, with upcoming dates of Thursday 21st March (6-7pm) and Wednesday 27th March (1pm-2pm) - they're joinable through the link on the Council's website.
Foster carers need to be aged 21 and over, have a spare bedroom, time to care for a child and a willingness seek to understand young people who have experienced trauma and loss. Fostering payments are from ÂŁ380 to ÂŁ710 a week, per child depending on skills and experience.