Members of the City of Wolverhampton Council's Fostering for Wolverhampton team, along with local foster care champions, will be out and about all week on the Fostering for Wolverhampton recruitment bus to have an informal chat with anyone who is considering becoming a foster carer.
They will be on hand to meet people at:
- Queen Square, Wolverhampton, on Monday 25 September from 10am to 3pm
- Asda, Waterloo Road, on Tuesday 26 September from 10am to 3pm
- Sainsbury's St Marks on Wednesday 27 September from 9.30am to 3pm
- Molineux Stadium on Wednesday 27 September from 6pm to 8pm
- Bentley Bridge retail park on Thursday 28 September from 8.30am to 3pm
- Waitrose on Penn Road on Friday 29 September from 9.30am to 3.30pm
- Wolves Pride on Saturday 30 September from 12pm to 5pm
Foster families are helping to give scores of children in Wolverhampton the best possible future by offering them a supportive environment and a loving home.
But more foster carers are urgently needed as there are dozens of children waiting for a home, and the Fostering for Wolverhampton team are keen to hear from individuals and couples who want to make a difference to a local child.
Councillor Val Gibson, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "We are very lucky to have so many dedicated foster carers who combine a desire to help children with a commitment to providing the best possible care, but we have more youngsters who are looking for a foster home.
"Fostering can truly be a life changing experience, both for foster carers and the young person they care for. We'd love to hear from people who have both a spare room and of course love in their heart to help local children by fostering."
Foster carers can be sole carers, married or in a relationship - and they won't be on their own as help and support is available 24 hours a day. They will receive 6 months' "buddy support" from experienced foster carers who are there to befriend and guide them through the system.
Supervising social workers provide intensive support for the first six weeks of a placement and then every month thereafter, while foster carers can get help through a peer support network.
Placements can be anything from a few days to a number of years, and carers receive a regular, tax exempt fee and allowance to cover the cost of bringing up the child.
As well as the week's events, people can also find out more about becoming a foster carer by visiting Type=links;Linkid=8022;Title=Fostering for Wolverhampton;Target=_blank; or by calling 01902 551133.
- released: Friday 22 September, 2017