May 08 - G3 Magazine

66
community
Fostering and
adoption units are
calling out for potential
carers to come forward
and are targeting the
gay community for help
fostering a new life
The current shortage of
foster homes and carers in
the UK currently stands at
over 10,000 according to
The Fostering Network.
To compensate for the shortfall, the Network
runs an annual recruitment drive, Foster Care
Fortnight, designed to raise awareness of the
need for more foster carers and crucially secure
participation from those of you who’ve already
been thinking about fostering but not yet taken
the plunge. This years’ campaign will run from 12
to 25 May.
Towns in the north east and north west have the
biggest deficit of children to carers. However,
willing and enthusiastic fosterers are needed all
over the UK and there are several boroughs in
and around London currently doing their bit to
encourage potential parents to step up during
Fostering Fortnight. Tower Hamlets, Brent and
Enfield boroughs are currently seeking carers to
provide short-term placements for children from
the ages of eight to 18.
Can I be a foster carer?
“Sharing the care of a child with their parents and
the council is a challenge that Tower Hamlets
foster carers meet exceptionally well,” says
Laun Bowman, Recruitment Co-ordinator for
the Children’s Services Team for Tower Hamlets
Council. “[Attracting] gay and lesbian foster carers
is explicit on all our marketing material. However,
what is most important when considering being
a foster carer is your wealth of life experience,
willingness to work with children, patience,
tolerance and your enthusiasm for life. It is also
vital that you are able to share your home and life
with others.”
Paula Stacy for Enfield Fostering shares Bowman’s
views: “Potential carers need to consider if they
can actively promote the educational life of a
child together with social and family life. To this
end its important that your willingness to travel
and maintain links is at the forefront of your mind,
as your commitment may well need to last over
a year until the child’s plan is complete.” Each
fostering services’ unique family finding team will
determine your suitability for child placement on a
case-by-case basis.
What help will I get?
Foster carers receive regular support from their
local fostering and adoption service and are also
offered parental training, job skills and generous
allowances. There is so much support and
opportunity as a carer many adopt fostering as a
long-term career.
For more information on Fostering Fortnight
or foster opportunities in your area,
visit www.fostering.net Also:
For Enfield: www.enfield.gov.uk/fostering
or call 020 8379 2831
For Brent: www.brent.gov.uk/adopfost.nsf/
Pages/LBB-1 or call 020 8937 4538
For Tower Hamlets: www.fosteringandadoption.
co.uk or call 0800 279 9850
HOMELESSNESS
INITIATIVE
Stonewall Housing launches a
new service for LGBT youths
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Anyone interested in using the services can
call Stonewall Housing on 020 7359 5767,
email info@stonewallhousing.org
or visit www.stonewallhousing.org.