High Sheriff's call for potential foster families to come forward
The High Sheriff of the West Midlands has given her backing to a new foster families scheme, talking about her own experiences as a foster parent.
The Big Fostering Partnership aims to find resilient foster families to provide long-term stability for the growing number of children in care.
Dudley Council has taken the national lead in The Fostering Network scheme to move some of society’s most vulnerable children out of children’s homes and into a stable family environment through long-term foster care placements.
Louise Bennett OBE DL, a mother-of-two who has also fostered children for the past eight years, said The Big Fostering Partnership was a cause close to her heart.
She said: "Fostering children is a huge decision but one which reaps endless rewards.
"Every willing foster parent has the opportunity to make a real life-changing difference to a child, irrespective of sexuality, gender, marital status, ethnicity, religion, whether they are a homeowner or renting or even whether or not they are already a parent.
"Every child born deserves a secure base, stability, supportive boundaries and equal opportunities.
"But of course, life does not always turn out the way we want or expect.
"As a result, there are thousands of children in care at any one time.
"As we look at ourselves or our own children and grandchildren, it can be hard not to think of others the same age who are missing out on the love, security and stability that the majority of us take for granted."
Statistics show there were more than 57,000 children living with foster families in England in March last year, representing almost three quarters of the total 80,000 children in care.
The number of foster families in England stands at more than 44,000, but more are needed every year as some 30,000 children across the UK come into care every year.
The scheme aims to find resilient families who are able to provide specialist care for seven to 16-year-olds with more complex needs who are currently living in children’s homes.
To find out more, go to fosteringindudley.org.uk/contact-us.html or bigfosteringpartnership.co.uk.
