Foster for East Midlands is celebrating ‘Fostering Moments’, as we embrace Foster Care Fortnight 2024, which started on 13 May and continues until 26 May 2024. This two-week event is the UK’s biggest foster care awareness raising campaign led by charity The Fostering Network.
Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have recently collaborated to form a regional fostering hub, Foster for East Midlands, which aims to increase the recruitment of foster carers and provide the support carers need to continue in the role. With more carers in children’s own communities, less young people would need to be placed in unfamiliar areas.
Foster carers care for around three-quarters of the 100,000+ looked after children in the UK. Everyday foster carers, providing children safe, loving, and supportive homes.
Here are a few of our East Midlands Foster Carers moments:
Shelia, foster carer from Nottingham
One of my cherished moments was helping a child learn to crawl, walk, and laugh—skills they hadn't been encouraged to develop before.
Mark and Julie, foster carers from Derby
There are many memorable moments, but one that stands out was our bonfire and pizza night. We brought together our current foster children and our past foster children, who are now grown up and some with their own families. It's heartwarming that they still want to visit us and that we remain a part of their lives. We are so proud of how well they are all doing. It was a reassuring and joyful moment, knowing they are all thriving, and we don’t have to worry.
Debbie, foster carer from Nottingham
The opportunity to support two little boys in finding their forever homes, starting with initial fostering and then seeing them adopted, was incredibly fulfilling. As a foster carer, this experience was truly rewarding, and I am grateful to still remain good friends with them and their families.
Sarah, birth child of a foster carer from Derbyshire
Over many years, I have watched my mum care for several children, both long and short term, which makes me incredibly proud of her. It has been amazing to witness the bond between my mum and the foster children, seeing the warmth, love, and security she provides to these vulnerable children.
One of my most memorable moments was going to the seaside with a foster teenager in my mum’s care and witnessing the joy of them stepping on sand for the first time. It was at that moment I realised how much I have taken for granted the experiences given to me as a child, and I understood that not every child has these opportunities.
Councillor John Whitby, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Learning and Skills, who is a foster carer himself, said:
Foster carers play a crucial role in the lives of our children in care throughout the East Midlands. We urgently need more foster carers to provide loving homes and stability, ensuring every child in our care feels loved and supported, enabling them to grow and thrive as individuals.
As a foster carer for Derby City, one of my most memorable moments was walking my former foster child down the aisle on their wedding day. It was an incredibly proud moment for me.
Sarah Thomas, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said:
There’s a huge shortage of foster carers across the UK, so this Foster Care Fortnight we’re encouraging more people to consider fostering. Fostering families are a lifeline to children and young people in need of a home, providing them with support, stability, and love.
Children and young people need local foster carers who are equipped to meet all their needs. Without this they can end up living in unsuitable environments, far away from friends and family and often separated from their siblings, impacting on their wellbeing now and into the future. We urgently need more foster carers to ensure children and young people are cared for in the right home for them.
For anyone who is considering fostering but hasn’t taken the next step, we encourage you to contact us to find out more about what foster care involves or contact your local fostering service.
Foster For East Midlands is thrilled to celebrate the incredible work our foster carers do every day. To honour their dedication, we are organising a foster walk and picnic, alongside hosting a special event, Fostering’s Got Talent.
Every foster carer plays a vital role in the lives of our foster children, making a significant difference in their lives in many ways. As the need for foster carers continues to grow, we invite those interested in making a positive impact to learn more about becoming a foster carer.
For more information, visit fosterforeastmidlands.org.uk, attend one of our fostering information event, or call us at 0303 313 2950.
Join us in supporting and celebrating the extraordinary contributions of our foster carers. Your involvement can change lives.
You can get behind the campaign by sharing your support on social media, using #FCF24 and #FosteringMoments.