Foster Care Fortnight launches today (Monday, 15 May) across the country and is an annual campaign to raise awareness of the transformational power foster care can make whilst also celebrating the fostering community.
So, there has never been a better time to find out more about the difference you could make to a child or young person’s life.
This year’s theme for Foster Care Fortnight is #FosteringCommunities. Foster care is at the heart of our community here in Knowsley, enabling children to stay with fostering families, local to everything they are familiar with already.
In Knowsley there are more than 340 cared for children. And more fostering households are needed to make sure every child who cannot live with their own family gets the care they need and are well supported within their community.
Foster carers in Knowsley provide support and care in a family setting and enable children to stay in their local community with everything that is familiar to them. This minimises further disruption to their lives by helping them stay in their school, close to their friends, and maintaining connections with other family members.
Cllr Margaret Harvey, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Knowsley Council said: “Our foster carers in Knowsley are at the heart of our community. They provide unconditional support, love and encouragement to the children and young people in their care.
“Of course, deciding to foster is a big decision, one that is given an enormous amount of time and thought. So if you’re considering fostering, now’s the time to get in touch and find out more.
“Call, email or come along and meet our fostering team at one of the events we’re holding during Foster Care Fortnight. You can have any questions answered without any pressure – and it might just be the start of a rewarding fostering journey.”
This Foster Care Fortnight, the fostering team will be joined by foster carers as they visit shopping centres throughout the borough as part of the Foster for Knowsley roadshow. Come along and meet them at one of these shopping centres:
- Friday 19 May, 9.30am -1pm, Prescot Retail Park
- Friday 19 May, 2pm-4.30pm, Kirkby Town Centre
- Thursday 25 May, 9.30am – 1pm, Huyton Town Centre
- Thursday 25 May, 2pm-4.30pm, Halewood Town Centre
You can also get in touch with the team by calling 0151 443 3959 or visit https://fostering.knowsley.gov.uk.