COULD you take the time to change a child’s life forever?
Foster Care Fortnight 2016 gets under way next week, and features a new campaign to recruit much-needed carers across Teesside and beyond.
The high-profile drive is part of the biggest awareness-raising campaign of its kind in the UK, and this year’s theme is Time to Foster, Time to Care.
The campaign highlights the invaluable work of foster carers who give children stability and security and in many cases their first positive experience of family life.
And it’s an appeal for new volunteers to join the network of fostering families and make a real and lasting difference to the lives of fostered children.
The 2016 event runs from Monday, May 16 to Sunday, May 29 and will see campaigners taking to the streets and social media to spread the word.
There are currently more than 4,000 foster carers in the North East – but there’s an urgent need for at least a further 400 over the next 12 months.
New recruits are needed to look after children of all ages, although the greatest need is for older children, sibling groups, disabled children and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
The Middlesbrough Council Fostering team will be outside BHS on Linthorpe Road/Corporation Road throughout Foster Care Fortnight between 11am and 2pm daily, Monday to Saturday.
They’ll also be targeting local radio and newspapers to get the message across, and experienced foster carers will be on hand to share their insights.
Throughout the rest of the year Middlesbrough and its Tees Valley partners will be organising special events to encourage people to make that important step into fostering for their local authority.
On Sunday, June 19 Middlesbrough foster carer Elizabeth Eckle will undertake a parachute jump to help raise awareness and attract people into fostering.
She’s also raising funds for the Middlesbrough Foster Carers Association who support looked after young people – Elizabeth’s fundraising page can be found at Virginmoneygiving.com
There’s also a special treat in store with the second Tees Valley Fostering Fun Day at Middlesbrough Sports Village on Sunday, July 24 following last year’s hugely successful inaugural event.
And plans are afoot for another special Tees Valley event in September to keep up public awareness – details be announced in due course.
Councillor Mike Carr, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Children’s Social Care, said: “Every 20 minutes across the UK a child comes into care in need of a foster family, and we urgently need people to come forward to meet that demand.
“Foster carers transform lives by providing the homes, stability and security that so many children desperately need.
“This annual campaign highlights the commitment, passion and dedication of foster carers, and I hope once again it will inspire new recruits to come forward.
“It’s an opportunity to make a priceless contribution to young lives, and give some of the most vulnerable people in our community a start in life they might not otherwise have.”
To find out more about fostering, contact the Middlesbrough Family Placement Team on 01642 201962, email family_placement@middlesbrough.gov.uk or visit www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/fostering