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People who are interested in becoming a foster carer are invited to meet the Fostering for Wolverhampton team at Molineux Stadium next week.

 

The event, on Tuesday 13 November from 6.30pm until 8pm, is an opportunity to find out more about this rewarding career, including the support and financial benefits available to people who take it on, and to speak directly to current foster carers about their experiences.

 

Foster families are helping to give hundreds of children in Wolverhampton the best possible start in life by offering them a supportive environment in a loving home.

 

But more foster carers are urgently needed as there are currently dozens of children waiting for a home, and the Fostering for Wolverhampton team are keen to hear from individuals and couples who want to make a difference to a local child.

 

Foster carers can be single, married or in a relationship – and they won't be on their own as help and support is available 24 hours a day. They will receive six months' “buddy support” from experienced foster carers who are there to help and guide them, while carers also receive a regular, tax-exempt fee and allowance to cover the cost of bringing up the child. The allowance starts from £383 to £440 per week depending on the child’s age.

 

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We are very lucky to have so many dedicated foster carers who combine a desire to help children with a commitment to providing the best possible care, but we have more youngsters who are looking for a home.

 

“Fostering can truly be a life-changing experience, both for foster carers and the young person they care for. We'd love to hear from people who have both a spare room and of course love in their heart to help local children by fostering.”

 

As well as attending Tuesday’s drop-in event, prospective foster carers can find out more by logging on to www.fosteringforwolverhampton.com or calling 01902 551133.

Around 150 foster carers and fostering professionals came together to share best practice and help further improve fostering services for Wolverhampton’s looked after children.

The annual Foster Carer Conference, at the Ramada Park Hall Hotel, brought together carers and professional to specifically focus on working with adolescents and working with children from a diverse background.

Guest speaker Lemn Sissay MBE received a standing ovation after opening the conference with a thought-provoking motivational speech about his own journey through the care system. Other speakers included Leon Reid, the Commonwealth 2018 200m bronze medallist and care leaver, and Gareth Rafferty, Wolverhampton care leaver.

Professionals also took part in workshops and listened to a series of other keynote speaker on teenager resilience, emotional coaching, moral development and working with teenage asylum seekers.

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "We are constantly looking at ways in which we can improve fostering services and outcomes for our looked after children and young people.

"This important event was a brilliant opportunity to have foster carers, social workers and other professional in one place, learning together, sharing best practice and helping to develop new ways in which we can support children and young people in Wolverhampton.

“As well as an opportunity to reflect and build on the skills that our carers have in safeguarding young people and providing them with a safe and loving family, the conference was a chance for us to say a massive thank to our many foster carers who do a challenging job, day in, day out, to give children and young people the best possible start in life.”

People interested in becoming foster carers can find out more about this vital role at a special Fostering Friday event today.

 

Members of the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Fostering for Wolverhampton team, along with foster care champions, will be at Costa Coffee in Dudley Street, Wolverhampton, from 10am until pm for an informal chat with anyone considering becoming a foster carer.

 

Foster families are helping to give scores of children in Wolverhampton the best possible future by offering them a supportive environment in a loving home.

 

But more foster carers are urgently needed as there are dozens of children waiting for a home, and the Fostering for Wolverhampton team are keen to hear from individuals and couples who want to make a difference to a local child.

 

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We are very lucky to have so many dedicated foster carers who combine a desire to help children with a commitment to providing the best possible care, but we have more youngsters who are looking for a permanent foster home.

“Fostering can truly be a life-changing experience, both for foster carers and the young person they care for. We'd love to hear from people who have both a spare room and of course love in their heart to help local children by fostering.”

 

Foster carers can be sole carers, married or in a relationship – and they won't be on their own as help and support is available 24 hours a day. They will receive six months' “buddy support” from experienced foster carers who are there to befriend and guide them through the system.

 

Supervising social workers provide intensive support for the first six weeks of a placement and then every month thereafter, while foster carers can get help through a peer support network.

 

Placements can be anything from a few days to a number of years, and carers receive a regular, tax exempt fee and allowance to cover the cost of bringing up the child.

Have you got room in your home and your heart to foster? Haringey Council is marking foster care fortnight with a series of sessions aimed at encouraging more people to take on the inspiring role.

Foster carers are urgently needed in the borough to look after children who, for a range of reasons, can no longer live with their families. There are around 432 children in care in Haringey, and we particularly need foster carers for teenagers, as 37 per cent are aged 15 – 17.

At one of our information sessions, residents can find out more about what being a foster carer involves, what training and support they receive, and get the chance to chat with a foster carer.

As a foster carer in Haringey you receive:

•    24-hour expert advice and support all year round

•    Monthly supervision and regular support from your personal dedicated supervising social worker

•   Up to £427 per week per child

•   Close working with professional support teams, including child social workers, health and educational specialists

Jan is a Haringey resident who has been fostering for three years. She said:

“I’m really pleased I made the decision to become a foster carer and would urge anyone who is thinking about it to give it a go.

“Of course it has been demanding and challenging but I have really enjoyed it, I’ve learned a lot about myself as well as lots of new skills.

The rewards far outweigh any challenges.”

There are more than twice as many children waiting for families than there are adopters, new figures show.

The statistics reveal there are 1,135 children waiting to be adopted but just 407 families approved to adopt.

The shortfall in the number of adoptive parents is revealed at the start of National Adoption Week, which aims to inspire more people to adopt.

The new research, by Adoption Match and based on data from The Adoption Register for England*, also reveals that of the children awaiting adoption:

  • Almost a third (29%) are Black and Minority Ethnic children
  • 57% are boys
  • 55% are in sibling groups of two or more

Dr Sue Armstrong Brown, Adoption UK’s chief executive, said: “Children who are older, part of a sibling group, or have special needs are always harder to match – so there is an urgent need for families who can meet their needs.”

Adoption UK is also keen to debunk some of the common misconceptions around who can and cannot adopt.

Adoptive parents can be single or unmarried; gay, bisexual or transsexual; disabled, living on benefits; and while no upper age limit exists you do have to be aged 21 or older.

Adoption UK member Dr Peter McParlin was 59 when he and his husband, then aged 55, decided to adopt.

Dr McParlin said: “I was 60 when our six-year-old son came into our lives. He’s been with us for two years. Yes, it’s been challenging, but challenges can also keep you young. It’s also been hugely enjoyable, but it would be crass to say it’s easy-peasy. Our son has ADHD and has also had the awful experience of his first adoption disrupting.

“Would I recommend to folk in their late forties and older to embrace the challenge of adoption? I most certainly would, and so would my partner. I’m of the opinion that there are a good few thousand older people who could offer something invaluable to a child desperate for a home, and loving parents.”

Alex was the first transsexual to adopt from his local authority when his son Cassius, then aged 18 months, was placed with him three years ago. He said: “I always planned on adopting but assumed I’d do it as a couple. I didn’t imagine that transitioning could be a barrier but I assumed wrongly for a long time that a single man couldn’t adopt.

“In my day-to-day life I am a man and a father. No one questions either fact. I don’t come out as being trans, or an adopter, unless I want the other person to know, for a good reason.”

Alex’s message to members of the trans community considering adopting a child, is: “If you’ve transitioned and sorted out your own identity you’ve probably got a great deal of resilience and self-reliance. So if you’re up for another huge challenge and making a real difference to a child who needs supporting while working out their own identity, go for it! But bear in mind your life will completely change yet again, and like transition, there isn’t a way back.”

Paying tribute to today’s diverse range of adopters, Dr Armstrong Brown said: “When it comes to a child’s development, it’s not the sexual orientation, or gender, or age, or race of their parent(s) that’s important. Rather, the resilience of those individuals and the quality of the family relationships are what really matter.”

People who want to take the first step to adoption can start by contacting Adoption UK. There is a free helpline and membership provides expert advice, access to legal help and a range of fantastic offers on training, shopping and family activities.

Wolverhampton has officially thanked dozens of dedicated foster carers for the vital work they do looking after vulnerable children and young people in the city.

The City of Wolverhampton Council's Fostering for Wolverhampton team recognised the service of 46 foster carers at the ‘For the Love of Fostering’ awards evening at the Ramada Park Hall Hotel on 7 December 2017.

Leigh Beech, Sue and Bill Collett, Faye and Michael Downes, Stacey and Ken Jordan, Greer O’Connor, Denise and Stephen Sharp, Shaun and Deborah Webb received awards for 10 years' service, while Linda Bristow, Gloria Corke, Michael and Dorothy Humphries and Mildred Williams were commended for completing 15 years.

Awards for 20 years' service were presented to Sandra and Graham Cox, while Taru and Parveen Bal, Cheryl Jackson, Kathleen Smith and Linda and Graham Walker received awards for 25 years’ service. Susan Carless and Heather and Geoffrey Fox were commended for 30 years’ service and Rita Dickenson who retired after fostering for over 30 years.

This year’s awards event also included six new special awards. The first, New Foster Carers award was won by Kenta and Mike Haran and highly commended in this category were Mark Tidmarsh, Monica Evans, Natasha McIntosh, Rena Patel, Steve and Laura Bayliss and Dee and Karl Welsh.

The second category, the Permanency Carers Award was won by Emma and Stephen Goodwin and highly commended were Ursula and Anthony Wastall, Kathleen and Roy Shayler and Christine Jones.

The third category, the Kinship Carers Award was won by Dawn James and highly commended were Doreen and Steven Platt, Yvonne and Robert Webb and Paula and Ronald Tranter.

The fourth category, the Teenage Foster Carer Award was won by Enza Sprio and highly commended were Elizabeth and Trevor Jones, Kathleen Smith, Yvonne Taylor and Rita Dickenson.

The fifth category, Outstanding Commitment to Fostering Children with Disabilities Award was won by Gill and Andy Small and highly commended were Gemma and James Wright and Lesley and Kevin Clarke.

The final award, Outstanding Contribution to Fostering was won by Emma-Jane Kisby and highly commended were Brian Fraser and Tracy Kenny, Yvonne Taylor, Karen and Christopher Young and Brian and Mandy Saunders.

The evening was opened by Deputy Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Phil Page and awards were presented by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Families Councillor Val Gibson and Emma Bennett, Director of Children’s Services.

Councillor Gibson said: "We are very lucky to have so many fantastic foster carers in Wolverhampton who combine a desire to help children with a commitment to providing the best possible care and support for them.

“I was delighted to be able to present awards to these very special people and to have the opportunity to personally thank them for their efforts on behalf of our city's children and young people.

"I would urge anyone who has considered fostering to speak to our Fostering for Wolverhampton team to find out more about this life-changing role.”

Foster carers can be sole carers, married or in a relationship. Placements can be anything from a few days to a number of years, and they receive a regular, tax exempt allowance to cover the cost of bringing up the child.

Help and support is available from the Fostering for Wolverhampton team 24 hours a day, while first-time foster carers also receive six months' "buddy support" from experienced carers who are there to guide them through the system.