Search for families who care
A teenager who has found a future thanks to foster care hasspokenofhisexperiences.
More than 400 children across Wearside are in foster care through the newly launched organisation, Together for Children, which has taken on the running of services from Sunderland City Council.
Butitsaysmorepeopleare needed to join the 270 carers it already has to offer temporary homes for young people in the city.
Onefamilyhasopenedup about the help it has offered as it backs Foster Care Fortnight, which is running until Sunday.
BillyHardy,now17,moved to Ryhope to live with foster carers, husband and wife Maurice and Dorothy Davis, in 2006.
He said: “I thought I wouldn’t like coming here, but Maurice and Dorothy alwayslookedaftermelikeIwas theirownchildandIstartedto getusedtomynewfamilyand settle in.”
Withthehelpandsupport of his foster carers Billy, who attends Southmoor Academy Sixth Form and hopes to go on to study maths at university, has managed to open up to friends about his home life, gaining confidence along the way.
Maurice, 70, and Dorothy, 68, who have two adult children of their own, have been fostering for 32 years and decided to foster after seeing an advertisement.
Since then they have looked after more than 60 children, with Billy being in their care the longest.
Maurice said: “I would encourage anyone thinking it might be for them to give fostering a try.
“Welcomingyoungpeople into your family is hugely rewarding,”
Formoreinformationvisit www.togetherforchildren. org.uk/families/fostering or call (0191) 520 5553.