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We are aiming to attract more local people into
fostering during Foster Care Fortnight from 12 - 25
May.
There are currently 85 foster carers and 16 Family Link carers
in North Somerset looking after more than 150 children and young
people of all ages.
But we need more people to come forward to provide children with
safe and caring homes while they are unable to live with their own
families.
Each carer's skill is assessed and carers are paid a fee
according to their skill level and an age-related allowance for the
child. There is ongoing support and comprehensive training to
develop carers' knowledge and skills.
"Carers can be single or in a couple," said Cllr Jeremy
Blatchford, executive member for children and young people's
services.
"There is no upper age limit, although we do prefer people over
the age of 21. You do not need to own your own home and it doesn't
matter if you already have your own children at home.
"What you do need is to be healthy, have the space and capacity
to care and the willingness to learn through training and work with
professionals as part of a team.
"In the last two years we have successfully recruited a number
of new foster carers, but we, and most importantly the children and
young people in our care, need more."
Foster Care Fortnight is a UK-wide campaign co-ordinated by
fostering charity the Fostering Network. It aims to raise awareness
of fostering and highlight the shortage of foster carers across the
UK, especially for teenagers.
During the fortnight we will be encouraging the public to find
out more about fostering and becoming a foster carer.
If you are interested in being a foster carer in North Somerset
please telephone 01275 888 999, email
fostering@n-somerset.gov.uk
or visit
www.n-somerset.gov.uk/fostering |