White Horse Federation gets behind fostering recruitment drive

Swindon Borough Council’s campaign to recruit more foster carers has received the backing of The White Horse Federation.

The Federation, a Wiltshire-based multi-academy trust made up of primary schools, secondary schools and special schools, stressed the important work that foster carers do and urged those who are interested to get in touch with Swindon Borough Council’s fostering team straight away.

Dr Nicholas Capstick, CEO of The White Horse Federation, said: “As an employer of a large number of colleagues, the WHF is genuinely delighted and I am personally pleased to support this initiative.

“There are too many young people who do not benefit from being part of a loving family and any employer should look within to see if, by just spreading information and broadening insight into fostering among their staff, they can bring awareness which will hopefully lead to more children being cared for by loving foster parents.”

In May, the Council launched the first phase of a massive drive to encourage more people to sign up to become foster carers.

Phase two will run until December and will be centred on working with local businesses and organisations to help encourage more people to sign up.

The WHF will be assisting the Council’s campaign by amplifying its message across the many Federation schools, ensuring parents and carers across the community are informed about fostering and have access to resources and advice if they are thinking about becoming foster carers.

Cllr Mary Martin, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and School Attainment, said: “It’s wonderful to have the support of The White Horse Federation and we are thrilled to be working with them to recruit more foster carers over the coming months.

“Dr Capstick is right when he says that too many children go without the love and support that comes with having a stable family unit, and it’s our aim to ensure that something which most of us take for granted is extended to as many youngsters as possible.”

There are many ways people can get in touch to find out more: visit the website (www.swindon.gov.uk/fostering), call the team for a chat on 07917 503447 or go along to an information session at the Lyndhurst Centre.