Twenty-three local authorities are taking part in a region-wide campaign to recruit and raise awareness of the need for more foster carers….
A new campaign will highlight the need for more foster carers in the North West.
The region-wide recruitment campaign aims to help find more than 700 new local authority fostering households for children in need.
A total of 23 local authorities are involved in the #youcanfoster campaign, which hopes to dispel some of the misconceptions about children in care, as well as providing greater clarity on who is eligible to foster.
There are some 52,000 children and young people across England in foster care. Of this figure, 9,000 live in the North West.
Cumbria County Council is one authority that is involved in the campaign. The region has nearly 500 children in foster placements. Some 3,400 families take in children, and the county council supports over 230 foster homes.
It is hoped the campaign will encourage more people to become carers, and replace the 12 per cent of foster parents who leave the service due to retirement each year.
The campaign will include a TV advert, radio coverage, and social media activity.
Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services Councillor Anne Burns said: “The council was keen to lend its support to the You Can Foster campaign, working in partnership with our neighbouring Local Authorities we are urging local people and families to step forward to find out more about the rewards of fostering.
“If you are interested in fostering then we’re here to help, we already support well over 200 foster families in Cumbria but with more children needing supportive foster families there is always a need for more people to join in.
“If you’re considering fostering don’t rule yourself out, contact us to find out more, you could make the difference for a child looked after in Cumbria.”
For more information about fostering with Cumbria County Council visit http://youcanfoster.org/cumbria or call 0303 333 1216.
