Can you spare room to care?

It is UK Foster Care Fortnight from 16-26 May. Somerset County Council is encouraging people from all walks of life to come forward to be foster carers for children and young people.

Foster carers are a lifeline for many children and young people in care and the County Council needs more of them. The County Council’s fostering team is visiting various centres across the county over Foster Care fortnight. People are invited to come and ask questions and find out first hand what it is like to be a foster carer.

All people need to apply to become a foster carer is a spare room and a desire to care for a child or young person. The Council welcomes people from all backgrounds to become foster carers, whether they are single, married, in a same sex relationship, retired, own their own home or live in rented accommodation, have their own children or not, everyone is welcome to apply.

Somerset needs foster carers for all ages of children, but particularly needs carers for teenagers.

Ruth and her husband Roger have been fostering with Somerset County Council since 2006. Ruth said: “I had a background in caring for children and adults, and had long thought about fostering. Since being approved as carers, we have fostered several teenage girls. It has given us an opportunity to show them that life is not all that bad. We particularly enjoy the challenge of caring for teenagers. It just feels right for us, and it is so nice when they come back and see us – it shows we must be doing something right.”

Cllr John Osman, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “Every child in our care has different needs, which is why we need carers from all backgrounds to come forward. Often it’s the little things and everyday experiences that make that real difference to a child in care and I would encourage anyone who is interested in fostering to contact us to find out more.”

For more information about fostering, or to receive an information pack, please visit our website at www.fosteringsomerset.org.uk or call 0800 587 9900.