People in Stone who are interested in fostering are being urged to find out more in Foster Care Fortnight.
The annual awareness campaign starts on 1st June and aims to raise the profile of fostering and highlight the urgent need for more foster carers. In Staffordshire, a further 60 foster families need to be found over the next year, and this year people are being asked to ‘fly the flag for fostering’.
Over the course of the two weeks individuals, businesses, and organisations are being asked to support the campaign, by swapping their usual Facebook or Twitter profile photo for the fostering flag. The flag can be downloaded from www.care4child.org/flythefosteringflag along with details on how to use it. All you need is a willingness to help spread the word. Anyone ‘flying the flag’ will also be invited to share fostering campaign Tweets and Facebook posts they spot, using the hashtag #fosteringflag.
Printable flags are also available online from the website for anyone with creative flair who fancies producing posters, window stickers or their own mini flags to help support the campaign.
For anyone interested in becoming a foster carer, a series of ‘Fulfil Their Potential’ roadshows and information evenings will be held across the county, giving people the chance to find out what’s involved in fostering with Staffordshire County Council.
Councillor Mike Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Children at Staffordshire County Council, said: “We’re very excited about our latest campaign, and we hope everyone gets involved and ‘flies the flag’ for fostering. Foster carers play a vital role in transforming children’s lives, giving them a loving and stable home, and helping them reach their potential. It isn’t always easy, but it offers the opportunity to make an amazing difference to children, and can be a very rewarding experience. People who want to foster need to care about children, have great communication skills, and be ready for a challenge. For those people interested in finding out more about fostering, I would encourage them to go along to one of the roadshows or information evenings.”
The campaign kicks off on Monday 1st June in Stafford’s Market Square at noon, and the official fostering flag will be raised over the Guildhall Shopping Centre.
Staffordshire County Council’s fostering service is rated as ‘outstanding’. Foster carers have a dedicated social worker and foster carer ‘mentor’ to support them through the training process. Foster families can also receive a competitive fee as a carer, and a weekly allowance for the child, depending on the age of the child and experience level of the carer. Find out more about fostering at www.care4child.org or by texting the word FOSTER to 60003 for a social worker to call for an informal chat.
