Calling all potential foster parents in Surrey & Hampshire
It is Foster Care Fortnight and there's an urgent need for people to care for children and young people
People in Surrey and Hampshire are being asked to consider becoming foster parents.
As part of foster care fortnight, there is a drive on to recruit new foster-carers to try and keep children and young people in the communities where they are from.
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.
In Surrey there are more than 1,000 'looked after children'
'Looked after children are children who have been in the care of their local authority for more than 24 hours.
Foster Care Fortnight (10-23 May) has seen the launch of the Hampshire Hive, a new support network for foster carers and the children they look after.
Individual local ‘hives’ offer peer-to-peer support, advice, and guidance to carers, in small groups led by support workers who are foster carers themselves.
Amber James, Head of Hampshire’s Fostering Service, said:
“In Hampshire, we have an ambitious vision for children, and our looked-after children are at the centre of this.
"We have listened to what our foster families tell us they need, and by launching this new network, we want to provide a ‘support bubble’ around children and young people in care.
"Hampshire Hives will support children and young people to have the security of staying in one placement and not needing to move to another while they are in our care. It will also enhance the overall wellbeing and satisfaction of our foster carers.
“We have recruited support workers from our own pool of experienced foster carers to lead Hampshire Hives across the county, and the service is headed by a dedicated and experienced senior member of staff.
"In addition to offering support, the Hampshire Hive network will have a social aspect, with children and carers making friends with other fostering families.
“Anyone who would like to find out more about fostering a Hampshire child should get in touch with us. If you have space in your heart and in your home for a child in need, we will train and support you all the way.”
Hampshire residents who would like to find out more about fostering with the County Council should visit their website.
If you are interested in finding out more about fostering in Surrey visit Surrey County Council’s website, or call their helpline on 0800 0969 626 (Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm).