Could you do something amazing and change a teenager’s life? That’s the question Fostering North Yorkshire (FNY) is asking as it looks for exceptional people to join its team of carers and give homes to young people who really need some love and support.
County Councillor Janet Sanderson, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Children’s Services, said: “FNY is part of North Yorkshire County Council and we have a great track record of placing the children and young people in our care with local foster families.
“Every year they look after more than 300 children and young people for us, and we are currently asking experienced foster carers to join us to take care of some of the teenagers we need to find secure, loving homes for. Lots of people would like to foster but feel that they may not have the skills to care for a teenager who may be challenging.
“We’ve produced a short film about the rewards foster carers can get from looking after teenagers. Called Fostering Teenagers, Changing Lives, it challenges the myth that fostering teenagers is always difficult. It features some of North Yorkshire’s most skilled foster carers and some of the young people who have experienced life in the care system at first hand. They acknowledge how much they have benefited from the people who have been there for them.”
To view Fostering teenagers, changing lives go to https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/life-foster-carer
Could you help Callum to get his life on track?
One of the young people FNY urgently needs to find a home for is Callum. Callum is 14 and needs a long-term foster carer, preferably living within a 25-mile radius of Middlesbrough. He is fit and healthy, visits the gym regularly and likes basketball and boxing.
Callum will be happy in a home with a pet, enjoys dog walking and being outdoors. He is a thoughtful boy with a great sense of humour although, like many teenagers, he needs help to organise his life, deal with his feelings and, where possible, keep in touch with his family. Callum has a history of offending and is being supported by Youth Justice; where he is engaging well and has not reoffended since March 2017.
Callum’s foster carers will need to have experience of caring for or supporting young people with challenging behaviour and understand the need for structure, routine and stability. They will also need to have the flexibility to support Callum to work through his Education, Health and Care Plan which is currently being revised. In return, FNY will provide a bespoke ppackage of support and Advanced Level Fostering allowances and fees, totalling around £26k annually, based on a 52-week placement.
If you think you could be the one to support Callum, contact Janice Hunter-Rose for more information on 01609 536048 or. 07816 294477.
For more information about FNY and becoming a foster carer, visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/fostering or call Fostering North Yorkshire on 01609 534654.