New foster carers are needed now in North Lincolnshire to provide safe and loving homes for children, and North Lincolnshire Council would love to hear from anyone who thinks they may be able to foster.
During Foster Care Fortnight (11 to 24 May 2020), the council is spreading the word that foster carers are needed now more than ever to care for children who cannot be cared for by their family.
The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘This is Fostering’ and the council is going to raise awareness of how foster care transforms the lives of children and young people.
Virtual Fostering Open Evenings (phone-ins) are taking place to give people the opportunity to ring in and find out more about fostering. They are on:
- Wednesday 20 May from 5.45pm to 6.45pm
- Tuesday 26 May from 5.45pm to 6.45pm
To get involved, call 01724 297000 and a member of the Fostering Team will answer any questions you may have and start you on your fostering journey.
You may not feel ready to foster, but you can still ask the team any questions to find out if it is right for you. If fostering isn’t something you feel able to do, let others know that foster carers are needed in North Lincolnshire, all are welcome to call.
Christine (aged 44) from Lincolnshire has recently become a foster carer with North Lincolnshire Council, she said:
“I became a foster carer to help children and teenagers as this was something myself and my husband wanted to do very much. We feel very privileged to be passed as foster carers, to be able to provide a safe and loving home environment where a child can feel safe and grow into a young adult.
“I would recommend fostering to anyone who knows they can dedicate 100 per cent to the child and understand fostering is life changing.
“From the moment we applied to become foster carers with North Lincolnshire Council everyone has been super supportive. We both appreciate the work that all the Fostering Team do for us and the children.”
Scott (aged 34) from North Lincolnshire has been a foster carer with North Lincolnshire Council for six years, he said:
“I wanted to offer a happy, stable home to children who need a safe, loving home whether that be one night or over a longer period of time. I wanted to help children taste and feel success in their life and help them to grow and flourish to be happy young people.
“I had worked with young people over the years and felt that I could use this experience to help me in becoming a foster carer along with having the fantastic support network.
“Fostering has its lows and highs but the highs definitely outweigh the lows. You will be on a fantastic journey where you will get to see young people have fantastic successes and experiences. You will watch confidence grow in your young people.
“North Lincolnshire has a fantastic support network for carers and young people. The other great support is your fellow foster carers who will always have a listening ear and tips and advice, along with your fostering social worker.”
If you are not able to make the virtual events, the Fostering Team are on hand to talk about fostering and offer fantastic support to anyone interested in fostering.
The Fostering Team can be contacted by texting ‘foster’ to 84433, calling 01724 297000 or emailing fostering@northlincs.gov.uk. Further details about fostering can also be found on the fostering pages.
Cllr David Rose, cabinet member for children, families and culture, said:
“During this challenging time it is definitely business as usual for the Fostering Team as they find new ways of working to ensure vulnerable children are cared for. They are still recruiting foster carers by contacting people through virtual means rather than face to face.
“This Foster Carer Fortnight, foster carers are needed now more than ever to care for children, who for whatever reason, cannot be cared for by their family.
“If you could help a child feel loved, safe and help them develop, we would love to hear from you. Even if you are unsure as to whether fostering is right for you, the Fostering Team will be happy to answer your questions and help you find out if fostering is for you.
“Fostering is a big commitment, but one that is massively rewarding. You can truly change a child’s life by fostering. Foster carers are needed to care for children of a range of ages, siblings and children with a variety of needs. There is no such thing as a typical foster carer, we have foster carers in their 20s and 70s.
“At North Lincolnshire Council we are very proud to provide an Ofsted rated, ‘outstanding’ fostering service for our children and young people.
“If you have ever thought about fostering, get in touch to find out more details, or if you know someone who would make a great foster carer, tell them about us.”
