Foster carer call gets support - but more is needed (From Swindon Advertiser)

Foster carer call gets support - but more is needed

7:10am Monday 13th February 2012 in News By Emma Dunn

A CAMPAIGN to help stop Swindon’s foster children from being split up from their siblings and sent away from their home town has seen dozens of people sign up to help.

The family placement team at Swindon Council turned to the Adver six months ago in a bid to recruit 50 more carers to keep up with the growing number of children needing fostering.

Since then the team has been taking calls from readers who want to become carers, and a fostering feature we ran in December saw 12 more people picking up their phones.

Cheryl Keller, assistant team manager of the family placement team, said: “Of the carers that enquired last year after the campaign started in July, there are eight sets currently being assessed. Of those, three said they enquired because of an article in the Adver.

“It is also worth noting that because of the Adver’s articles, those that do come forward wanting to foster have a better understanding of fostering, and therefore we are getting people who have a realistic view of what it involved.

“This is a real positive. It has been great to let the people of Swindon know that foster carers are real people, and that they are and can expect to be very well supported by our team.”

Children may be placed in foster care because their parents are ill, they have been neglected or their parents are struggling to cope.

Placements can be for one night or for several months before they are returned to their parents or considered for adoption.

In December, the Adver spoke to foster carers Carolyn and Declan Corr about caring for foster children over the festive season, which prompted a number of people to make enquiries about fostering.

Carolyn said: “It’s brilliant that our story has encouraged people to pick up the phone, I am really pleased.

“Fostering is rewarding, obviously you have your difficult moments like you do with any job but it’s wonderful to know you have made a difference to a child’s life.”

The family placement team is still appealing for people to come forward.

“There is always going to be an ongoing need. We need to keep it at the front of people’s minds,” said Cheryl.

Training and support is available to all foster carers and people who sign up are given an allowance.

Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer should call 01793 465700, email familyplacement@ swindon.gov.uk or visit www. swindon.gov.uk.