Celebrate Bristol fostering communities this Foster Care Fortnight
Bristol City Council is pleased to announce its partnership with the Fostering Network during Foster Care Fortnight.
This campaign, which runs from 15 to 28 May, seeks to elevate the visibility of fostering and drive more people to take up this important role.
Foster carers have been vital in providing secure, compassionate homes for children in Bristol. This work has been especially challenging due to circumstances such as the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. We thank them for their ongoing commitment and dedication.
The theme of this year’s campaign is Fostering Communities, to shine a light on the many ways people who foster support one another and vulnerable young people, and to celebrate how foster care can transform lives.
The fortnight is also a chance to recruit new foster carers as there are not enough to meet the needs of local children in care. This can result in some children being placed outside of Bristol to live far away from everything familiar to them. At the beginning of 2023, there were more than 750 children and young people in care but only 353 households fostering with Bristol City Council.
Councillor Asher Craig, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Equalities, said: “It’s great to be a part of Foster Care Fortnight. We take every opportunity to tell our foster carers and everyone who supports them how grateful we are for their hard work caring for children in care across our city.
“On top of this, the awareness campaign can help us to amplify our callout for more people to come forward who are interested in finding out more about fostering.
“The response to our recent urgent appeal saw 125 enquiries come through to our fostering team, however not every enquiry will lead to people becoming foster carers. We still need many more people to come forward while more and more children are coming into our care.
“If you have time and love to offer a child and a spare bedroom, please consider fostering. We offer training and support as well as a generous weekly allowance and a £500 welcome grant. Now is the time to act and help a young person who really needs you.”
Cassidy, a care experienced young person, encourages people to foster: “It changes your life… I think it’s actually a very good way to give back to the community… You’re helping children who have been through really horrible times and you can bond with them and watch them grow.”
To find out more about fostering with Bristol City Council call 0117 353 2400, email fostering@bristol.gov.uk or visit www.bristol.gov.uk/foster.
You can read more stories like this in Bristol Weekly Magazine here
