North Yorkshire foster carers call for more financial support

More than 120 families have signed a petition asking the County Council to increase fees

Author: Kathy GreenPublished 8th Jan 2023

North Yorkshire foster carers are calling for emergency support, arguing the rising cost of living means they can't afford to make ends meet.

More than 150 have now signed a petition asking for an increase to fees and allowances as well as help with things like the cost of school uniforms.

Ann Parker is a foster carer based near Thirsk and says money is really tight: "My birth children have both been really generous, they have both paid for me to go on holiday this year, my husband had to rely on his pension. There was a point where we didn't have any children in and we were down to our last 45p of the bank's money."

Kenny Millard is the chair of the IWGB Foster Care Workers’ Branch and says: 'It is unacceptable and unsustainable that dedicated professionals providing 24/7 care for the community’s most vulnerable young people are being forced to subsidise the public service they provide. Investing in foster care is an investment in the future of North Yorkshire and the time to make that investment - and sit down to hear carers’ concerns - is now.”

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