Foster Care Fortnight aims to raise awareness of fostering locally
Herefordshire Council is encouraging people in Herefordshire to consider becoming foster carers this Foster Care Fortnight.
Over two weeks, Herefordshire Council joins with others across the UK to thank foster carers for all they do and raise awareness of the life-changing impact fostering can have.
This year’s theme ‘The Power of Relationships’ - highlights the vital connections at the heart of fostering. The bonds formed with foster carers help children and young people grow and thrive.
Foster carers play a crucial role in providing safe, stable, and nurturing homes for children and young people, many of whom have faced difficult or traumatic experiences. They support children in their education, physical and emotional wellbeing, and help them rebuild trust and confidence.
But we urgently need more foster carers. Across the country, there is currently a shortage of foster carers, leaving too many children without the local homes they need.
Without locally based foster carers, children can end up in foster homes outside of their local area, far away from everything they know – family, friends, schools and clubs.
Sarah Thomas, Chief Executive of The Fostering Network, said:
“Strong, supportive relationships are at the heart of fostering. They connect foster carers, children, families, and practitioners, creating a community that surrounds children with the care they need to thrive. But with more children entering care, we urgently need more people to step forward so every child can have the right home for their needs.
“There’s no such thing as a ‘typical’ foster carer. The fostering community is made up of people from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender, relationship status, or sexual orientation. So, if you do one thing this Foster Care Fortnight, take a moment to find out more about fostering.”
Councillor Ivan Powell, Herefordshire Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, added:
“We encourage Herefordshire’s residents to consider fostering. It’s a rewarding journey that creates a lifetime of memories for foster carers and the children they support. If you feel you can make a difference to a child or young person’s life, come and join our family of foster carers. We’ll support you every step of the way.”
Jayne, Foster Carer for Herefordshire Council, said:
"We have so many young people desperate to live in loving family homes. You could set their life on a completely different path that leads to them fulfilling every dream they've ever had, just because you believed in them."
To watch Jayne’s fostering story, visit the council’s website.
If you’d like to learn more about fostering in Herefordshire, visit the council’s fostering webpage, call 01432 383240, or email fostering@herefordshire.gov.uk