Council launches search to find a foster home for four youngsters
ASPECIAL appeal has been launched to find a loving foster home for three brothers and their sister.
The children are currently living with two different foster families, but Lancashire County Council wants to see them reunited and able to live together.
According to foster services, the children, 15, 12, eight and six have a close bond and it is not in their best interests to be separated.
Being able to keep their ties with each other will help them to be able to thrive in the future. The children are all in good health but have witnessed domestic abuse at home and have been physically chastised by their birth parents.
They have also been subject to neglect and emotional abuse and were often looked after by their parents while were under the influence of drugs.
County Councillor Phillippa
Williamson, cabinet member for children, young people and schools, is urging anyone who is considering fostering to think about whether they can help.
Councillor Williamson said: “We have a family of four children who have been through a lot in their young lives.
“They are all very close and supportive of each other. We need to find them a permanent, longterm fostering family where they can grow up together.
“We are doing all we can to keep these children together. In cases like this, the family relationships take on extra importance. Being able to remain together will be an important source of comfort, strength and support.
“We often have to find fostering families for brother and sister groups, but this is a big number to try to accommodate – hence the appeal to the public. I’m hoping that we can encourage people to at least think this over.”
People across Lancashire
being asked to consider whether a change in their circumstances caused by the current Coronavirus situation could leave them well placed to provide a loving home for these children and the county council is also urging anyone who has fostered with them in the past to think about coming forward to offer the benefit of their experience.
It is hoped that foster carers who are currently taking a break from fostering and retired foster carers will come forward as they already have the skills and know how important fostering is for making a real difference to a local child’s life.
Lancashire County Council welcomes new foster carers from all different backgrounds, with carers needing to be over 21 and having spare room available by the end of the assessment process.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the children should contact the fostering team on 0300 123 6723.