Appeal to find more foster carers in Salisbury
Public event to help to boost number of people looking after children
Salisbury is the focus of a Wiltshire Council campaign to try and recruit more foster carers.
The council say they need more in the area and will be enlisting the support of businesses, charities, faith leaders and organisations to highlight the importance.
They have a three year campaign to provide 100 new foster carers by spring 2023.
In order for people to find out more about fostering, they are holding public events in Salisbury city centre.
The first takes place today (Tuesday 14th June) from 9am until 2pm at the Charter Market.
They will then be in the same place at the same time next week.
Meanwhile, they will be also be in the Guildhall Square on Sunday the 26th from 10am until 4pm.
It's chance for the public to ask the council’s Kinship and Fostering team some questions.
Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
“This is the fourth local campaign we have organised in Wiltshire to really focus on encouraging people in that area to consider becoming a foster carer. People can come and chat to our team without any obligation and find out more.
“Even if people are not ready just now, we still want to hear from them so we can provide a clear picture of fostering and how it can make a real difference to a young person’s life.”
"IT'S INCREDIBLY REWARDING"
Kim and Craig spent some time considering fostering before starting the process to become foster carers. They have three children of their own and as they grew older they felt they had the time and opportunity to give other children.
Talking about fostering teenagers, Craig said:
“What I realised is you get a little bit of kickback but that is because really they just don’t want to be hurt again. They’re desperate to be part of the family and actually just welcoming another child into the family or teenager into the family has been a really great experience.
“There are ups and downs, but overall it has been a brilliant experience and we don’t regret it. We’ve found our birth children have really got involved in the whole process as well and it’s just been good for us to just extend our family and welcome others in.
“So what I would say if you’re thinking about fostering I would really encourage you to do it. I wish we’d done it years ago, I think we took a long time trying to decide that and we could have just been doing this for a lot longer and actually the need is really out there, it’s absolutely urgent. We’d encourage you to seriously explore it, it’s incredibly rewarding, at times hugely challenging but totally, totally worth it.”
Foster carers need to be over 21 years of age, have a spare bedroom, time to care for a child and a willingness to care and seek to understand young people who have experienced trauma and loss.
People who foster with Wiltshire Council are given training and continued support. Payments reflect the commitment carers are making to the role.
There are different fostering schemes available ranging from £350 to £650 a week, depending on people’s skills and experience.
You can find out more by going to Wiltshire Council's website.