Urgent appeal for more foster carers

AN appeal has been launched for foster carers in Northumberland to help keep vulnerable children in their communities.

Too often, due to a lack of foster carers, youngsters are placed with families away from their local communities and sibling groups are separated, The Fostering Network and Northumberland County Council’s foster care team have warned.

The issue is being highlighted during Foster Care Fortnight, which runs until May 22, as calls are made for more people to come forward to foster children. More than 430 young people are currently in care in Northumberland.

Coun Guy Renner-Thompson, the council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said: “The council currently supports over 160 foster families, but with close to over 430 children in care, there is an urgent need for more people to come forward and join the team.

“You could make a real difference to the lives of local children and young people by offering them a stable home.

“We greatly appreciate everything our Northumberland foster carers do for children in care, and we can’t thank them enough. By supporting each other and working together as a team, our fostering community makes sure that our children can grow up locally and safe, in a nurturing and loving environment, to reach their full potential.”

Backing the campaign are partners Jonny and Dean, from Blyth Valley, who decided to apply to become long-term foster carers after feeling they had “so much more to give”.

Jonny, 34, a community nurse, said: “We currently have a little seven-yearold boy living with us who jokes every day that he’s going to stay with us until he’s an old man. Fostering brings a lot of special moments and those moments just blow you away.

“One that stands out was when I was teaching him how to brush his teeth properly and one night he turned round and said ‘You’re like my dad’ and that was so lovely. It melts your heart and it’s those moments that make fostering worth it. That’s why we care, so could you, come and foster with Northumberland.”

Tynedale foster carer Diane initially provided respite and short-term care before she moved into offering long-term foster care for two siblings, alongside her own son.

She said: “If you’re thinking about fostering, you can change somebody’s life for the better. It’s a challenging job, and it’s surprising how you can grow as a person, because you’re making a massive difference to somebody’s life.”

To find out more call Caroline Matthews on 01670 62 62 62, email foster@northumberland.gov.uk or visit www.northumberland.gov.uk/foster