Charity appeals for foster parents
A FOSTERING charity is encouraging borough residents to provide a loving home as part of Foster Care Fortnight.
Safehouses Fostering, an independent fostering organisation, is asking residents to help stem the current shortfall of foster parents in Stockport.
It comes as part of Foster Care Fortnight, an annual campaign that raises the profile of fostering, which runs from Monday, May 10 - Sunday, May 23.
The organisation also commissioned a report which revealed that only one percent of people surveyed across the North West had an accurate grasp on the true number of children being referred to social services each week.
According to their report there are 57,380 children living with around 44,500 foster families, but more than 8,500 foster carers are still desperately needed nationwide to meet demand.
Safehouses also said the number of looked after children and young people has risen steadily over the last 11 years.
Martin Leitch, head of fostering operations at Safehouses, which is based in Denshaw, just outside Oldham and provides foster care to Greater
Manchester, said over 1,000 children are referred to social services each week in England.
He said: “We are in desperate need of more foster families in Stockport to care for children either on a temporary or permanent basis.
“If you’re a kind, compassionate person interested in fostering, do something different this year and get in touch to find out more. Fostering comes in many forms and can be tailored towards the needs and lifestyle of foster parents, and those in their care.
“Foster carers can work flexibly as respite or short-term foster carers, or they can have foster children and young people living with them long-term, meaning they would remain in care until they feel ready to live independently.”
Martin added that there are lots of misconceptions around who can become a foster carer.
He said: “Safehouses Fostering’s report highlighted that more than 35 percent of people across the North West of England aren’t aware those living in rented accommodation can foster - a serious misconception that could be hindering foster carer recruitment in Stockport.
“Today there is a national shortage of more than 8,500 foster carers. This makes finding safe places for children to live extremely challenging.
“With the added post pandemic pressures, we are extremely concerned about whether there will be enough safe homes for vulnerable children in the greatest need.”