Make 2013 a life-changing year - foster a local child

Residents are being urged to make a New Year’s resolution which could make 2013 a life-changing year – to foster a local child.

People from all walks of life are encouraged to consider fostering and make a real difference to the life of a young person.

Bury is part of the You Can Foster campaign, a collaboration of 23 councils in the North West, which features television adverts on ITV1 with real carers.

The campaign has recruited 200 new carers and attracted 4,500 enquiries since its inception in 2010, and aims to dispel the many myths about fostering. Applications are welcomed from those who are single, in a relationship, married or divorced; from applicants who work full-time or don’t work at all; and regardless of gender or sexual orientation. All are assessed on their own merits, and the type of care you could offer a child is the most important thing.

Mark Carriline, executive director of children’s services, has emphasised the importance of You Can Foster for Bury.

“Following the success of previous years, we are proud to continue to be a part of such a high-profile campaign,” he said. “The New Year is the perfect time for us to call on our residents and ask them to give something back to a child in need in our community. We hope that the You Can Foster campaign will bring fostering to the forefront of the minds of those who want to make a real difference this year.

“Excellent training, support and generous financial allowances are offered. In these uncertain times, fostering for Bury is also an exceptional career choice for those looking for a new direction, or to complement their existing lives.”

For more information about the You Can Foster campaign, and to request an information pack, visit www.youcanfoster,org or call 0800 6347052.

If you would like to speak to a member of the Bury Fostering Team, please call 0161 253 6868 or email FosteringandAdoption@bury.gov.uk

Case study:

Foster carers Cathy and Ian were approved to foster for Bury in January 2012, and they explain how it has changed their lives:

“After 27 years doing the same sort of office job and rumours of redundancy, Ian and I decided we were looking for a change of direction,” said Cathy. “Our family had grown up. Our son was making plans to move out and get his own place. Each time life offers you a crossroads, it’s easy to choose what you're familiar with - but we were determined to do something different, something that really mattered.

“While travelling to work on the tram, I noticed an advert for fostering, and I wondered if this was something we could do. We were looking for something worthwhile to invest our time and energy into and knew we had the space and time now that my job was going. Our concern was, were we the sort of people who could do this? Did we have enough to offer a young person or child? 

“We phoned the council and spoke to the fostering team, who invited us to attend pre-approval training. This gave us an overview of what fostering was all about, the kind of people they were looking for, and we could ask questions. They did not skirt around the difficult aspects of the job, but they assured us that they would be there for us 24/7. They gave us plenty of time and support while we were making this decision, to make sure it was right for us and that we were the right for vulnerable children to be in our care.  

“After being approved by the panel, it was only a couple of weeks before we were told that they had two little girls for us to look after. Aged two and four, we had these girls for ten months and after the initial settling in we had the most wonderful time. It was the best thing we ever did, seeing these girls grow in confidence, smiling and laughing.

“During that year we were visited regularly by our supervising social worker, the children’s social worker and others such as health visitors and the Girls CAFCASS Officer. We were expected to attend reviews and meetings to check the girl’s progress and make sure the girls were happy and had everything they needed for their physical and emotional well being. These girls have now moved on. It was an emotional and positive move, giving the girls the permanent family they needed.

“We now have a complete change and are looking after two boys, aged ten months and two years old. After 20 years it’s back to the bottles and nappies again, but it does not take long to get into a routine and the fun begins again, from Thomas the Tank Engine to teaching the boys to walk and talk. To see the world through children's eyes removes the things you take for granted and everything is new and fascinating, life is full of wonder. What job gives you that?  

“If people are looking for a change in their lives, where their work and days really do mean something to so many people, we recommend they pick up the phone and have a chat with Bury’s fostering team to see if it’s something for them. They offer continuous training help and support and it is the best decision we have ever made.

“I have not looked back once and wished I'd done it years ago. No more Sunday night dread or Monday morning blues!”  

ENDS

Press release issued: 18 January 2013.

Picture attached: Cathy and Ian.