Kent County Council needs more people to become foster carers after facing huge numbers of children needing loving homes in the past year.
This Foster Care Fortnight (16-29 May), KCC is calling for anyone who could offer a stable and loving home to children including those with a disability, sibling groups to keep brothers and sisters together, 16-18 year olds working towards independence and unaccompanied asylum seeking young people.
Fostering with KCC means giving a home to local children, with local support in your own community and a local social worker.
There is also the opportunity to support unaccompanied asylum seeking young people who have often fled traumatic home lives and taken harrowing journeys to arrive in the county with no one to care for them.
KCC wants to recruit 150 more households to its fostering service this year.
Peter Oakford, KCC Cabinet Member for Specialist Children’s Services, said: “Our foster carers do an amazing job supporting vulnerable children from our own county and those who have fled their homelands to come to Kent.
“Whether you foster a disabled child, a teenager or an unaccompanied asylum seeking young person, Kent County Council makes sure you have all the skills and support you need to make sure you can do the best you can for the child in your care.
“Few roles are as rewarding as being a foster carer, knowing that the love and support you offer can change the course of a child’s life.”
Fostering is a paid role, you can be single or in a relationship, and age and experience are no barrier.
Foster Carers with Kent County Council get round-the-clock support and advice, they get their own ‘mentor’ – an experienced foster carer to support them through their first months, their own personal development plan, a chance to get new qualifications, payment for new skills and local support groups for both carers and their birth children.
If you think you have the energy, enthusiasm and love to support a vulnerable young person in Kent, call 03000 420002 or visit kentfostering.co.uk to find out more.
Kent County Council 09 May 2016
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