Have You Got Room for Me?
Words Faith Wilcox
For many the traditional route of a family seems like the straightforward answer and in some circumstances adoption. Currently there are 40,000 children that enter the care system per year. Many children have been separated from their families for their safety. Fostering is not a traditional family unit, but it might be the best thing you do this year.
Fostering is the perfect opportunity to give these children a fresh start in the New Year. Like many things the New Year brings hope of better.
Have you considered bringing hope to children and young people in the care system? Fostering is not a permanent arrangement although they can be long term arrangements. In this respect it is quite different from adopting. Adoption is legally binding and has difficulties in resolving breakdowns of adoptions as the child is not the responsibility of the local authority but yourself. Although this is rare, fostering gives you more flexibility on this front.
When considering being a foster carer, you can select the age group and the duration of time you would like to foster. However, you need commitment and understanding. Fostering can make a huge difference to the outcome of a child’s life. It can be a very rewarding experience, on the other hand it comes with its own challenges as every child is different. There is no manual to being a foster parent but you have a lot of support along the way from the local authority to foster carer support groups.
A child might be placed with you due to various reasons ranging from parental drug or alcohol addiction and a number of children are unaccompanied asylum seekers. So, it’s also useful if you speak a second language; however, it is not essential.
To gain more information, your local authority is the best point of contact. Often your local council will hold fostering open evenings. This an opportunity to find out more about fostering in your local area. Also, you can meet local foster carers that can share their experiences with you.
Mandatory requirements to being a foster carer:
21 years old and over
Must be a UK resident or have indefinite leave to remain
Able to take care of a child or young person on a full-time basis
There are other responsibilities that you may come across but this all depends on the type of foster care you offer. You do not need to be a homeowner, but you will need to have a spare room. If you think you are willing to make a difference, start your new year with giving a child a fresh start!