Posted on Monday 16th December 2019
(From left to right): Foster Carer Cliff Whiteley, Nicola Perks, Staffordshire County Council’s Fostering & Adoption team, foster carer Kelly Hyden and Emma Howitt, Staffordshire County Council’s Fostering & Adoption team
Staffordshire foster carers have joined together in a new campaign to encourage more families to consider fostering.
As part of its Christmas and New Year campaign to highlight the urgent need for more foster families, Staffordshire County Council’s fostering service and local foster carers have set out to bust some of the commonly held myths putting people off.
A series of short videos have been running online in the run up to Christmas highlighting who can foster. People can view the videos on social media and are being encouraged to share them with friends and family.
Foster carer Kelly Hyden is supporting the campaign and said:
“Christmas is a really magical time for families but it can be especially difficult for children in care. Knowing that you are making a difference to a child’s life is the most rewarding thing ever. It isn’t always easy though and has it’s challenges but there is plenty of help and support available from the fostering service and you’re never on your own.”
Cliff Whiteley, a foster carer from Stafford is also backing the latest Christmas campaign. Cliff said:
“I’ve been fostering for 18 years now and it’s a wonderful thing to do. It brings fantastic rewards, especially at Christmas time. Seeing their faces when they come down stairs and open their presents is amazing.
“Fostering also keeps you young and comes with great support and training from your local council. Everyone has life skills they can pass on to a foster child too, so go on, give it a go.”
Mark Sutton, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People at Staffordshire County Council added:
“We know there are lots of myths about who can foster out there, but most of them are untrue. For example, people think you need to be married, own your own home and you can’t own a pet, all of which are false.
“That’s why, in the run up to Christmas and over the New Year we’ll be busting those myths as part of our latest campaign to spread the message about the need for more foster carers. You can support the campaign by liking and sharing our posts on our social media channels and the more people we can reach the better.”
People can view the ’12 Myths of Fostering’ on YouTube and like it and share it on Facebook www.facebook.com/fosterforstaffs or Twitter @sccfoster_adopt
For more information on fostering with Staffordshire County Council, visit Foster for Staffordshire or call 0800 169 2061.