Digital bid to recruit foster families for refugees gets 4,000 views

A PROJECT to find foster families for young refugees has launched virtually and has already had 4,000 views.

Place to Call Home is a partnership between councils across the East Midlands, led by Leicestershire County Council, seeking to recruit around 40 foster carers and supported lodgings providers across the region.

The digital launch took place on Facebook and featured details of the regional campaign and an insight into the experiences of foster carer Pat and the Vietnamese girl she’s currently fostering.

More than 30 calls were received by the team on the day of the launch as well as emails and Facebook enquiries.

At the end of March 2019, there were 310 young unaccompanied refugees in the care of local authorities in the East Midlands.

Foster carers support these young people day to day, providing safety, security and a family environment.

Saffron, 42, was a foster carer for unaccompanied young refugees for four years and is applying again to foster through the project.

She said: “I am passionate about caring for and supporting children and young people who arrive into the UK unaccompanied.

“It is important for me to make a difference and with this role, it gives me the freedom to be me and to take a different approach and think outside of the box while supporting others.” Councillor Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council’s cabinet member for children and families, said: “There are many reasons why a young person may have been unsafe in their home country. “The things they may have experienced, alongside arriving in a new country alone, without family or support, can be terribly frightening.

“We are very proud to be leading this project, and hope to find kind, caring and generous foster carers to care for and support these young people and offer them a place to call home.

“I would encourage anyone who feels they have the necessary skills or experience to foster to get in touch with the team and find out more about how the role could change the lives and futures of young refugees.” A strong training and support package is in place for foster carers looking after young refugees and includes specific training relating to issues such as language barriers and the asylum process. The launch event remains available on the project’s Facebook page.

For more information about fostering young refugees, visit the Place to Call Home website, call 0116 305 5898 or email info@placetocallhome.org.uk.