Council campaigns to find new foster carers in Swindon 

By Barrie Hudson - 10 May 2021

Community

Swindon Borough Council is supporting Foster Care Fortnight in the hope of inspiring more people in the town to become foster carers.

The theme of this year’s Foster Care Fortnight, a national campaign from the Fostering Network, is #WhyWeCare.

It encourages anyone involved in fostering to share their reasons for being involved in fostering and why supporting local children and young people is so important to them.

Over the next two weeks, the council will be supporting Foster Care Fortnight to inspire people of all backgrounds and lifestyles to take the first step in becoming a foster carer, and to help provide more local places for children who need them.

Councillor Mary Martin, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Providing foster care for children in Swindon and keeping them close to their support network of family or friends is so important to their wellbeing. 

"But in order to provide foster care close to home, we need more foster carers in the Borough.

“Foster carers truly have a life-changing impact on vulnerable children and young people, providing them with the support, guidance and security to grow and develop at such a crucial stage in their lives. 

"I would encourage anyone who is considering becoming a foster carer to make the first step and get in touch with the Council.”

Throughout the campaign, which runs until 23 May, the Council will be sharing content across various channels, including its Facebook and Twitter pages and through its resident newsletters. 

This content will include videos featuring foster carers and care leavers, who will recount their personal experiences of fostering, to show the life-changing impact becoming a foster carer can have on children and young people in their town.

Reflecting on her time as a foster carer, Carol Watts, who has recently retired as a foster carer in Swindon, said: “The best thing about becoming a foster carer is helping each child and knowing you did your best for them. 

"Even if they don’t keep in touch as much, I know we gave them a lovely secure home and helped them as much as we could.

“It’s so rewarding to see them flourish and hopefully go on and live an independent life and remember us with fond memories.”

The council hopes the campaign will also dispel common myths around fostering, which can often prevent people from enquiring. Regardless of background or lifestyle, the Council is looking for people who:

- Have a wish to support children to have positive opportunities, whilst keeping in touch with their family and friends.

- Have time to support a child in their family home.

- Have a spare bedroom.

As a local authority, the council is able to offer support, training and a local fostering community to work closely with applicants throughout the programme.

People are invited to attend one of the council’s forthcoming virtual information sessions, which will be held on:

- Thursday, 13 May 2021 at 10am

- Thursday, 20 May 2021 at 6pm

- Thursday, 27 May 2021 at 10am

- Thursday, 3 June 2021 at 6pm

- Thursday, 10 June 2021 at 10am

- Thursday, 17 June 2021 at 6pm

- Thursday, 24 June 2021 at 10am

Residents can get in touch to book a place session by completing a short enquiry form at www.swindon.gov.uk/fostering or by giving the team a call on 07917 503447.

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