Blackburn with Darwen Council Fostering Service, and the Foster with us Recruitment Hub, have launched the start of Foster Care Fortnight with this year’s theme being the power of relationships.
The biggest fostering awareness raising campaign in the UK, established by The Fostering Network, raises the profile of the real need to recruit more foster carers for children and young people nationally, but also celebrates our existing foster carers and the difference that they make in their local community.
This year’s theme of the power of relationships, is extra special, as BwD fostering and Foster with us have been working in collaboration to recruit and have celebrated a positive first year.
Foster with us have established partnership working with five nort-west local councils, and have seen the number of foster carers increase as a result.
This year’s Foster Care Fortnight will include events across Blackburn with Darwen, followed by an art event at the end of the fortnight on Saturday 24 May at The Bureau Centre for the Arts in Blackburn, showcasing the creativity of our foster carers, children and staff.
Cllr Julie Gunn, Executive Member for Children’s Services, was at the launch event of Fostering Fortnight at Blackburn Town Hall this morning, she said:
"It was great to attend this morning and raise awareness of fostering. Foster Care Fortnight is an annual and important campaign that seeks to highlight all that foster carers do. Our carers accomplish incredible things every day and we value them dearly. Our Hub is doing brilliantly but we are always looking for more foster carers to make sure fostered children can live with the right foster carer for them. If you’ve ever considered fostering, please contact us."
There have also been positive relationships formed with BwD foster carers and Foster with us to promote the recruitment of more carers across the Borough, with the aim to recruit an additional 16 foster carers this year.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster carer for your local council, and providing a stable home for a child in your local community, then contact us on 0300 019 0200 or email hello@fosterwithus.org.uk
Alternatively, you can visit the Foster with us website.