Nottinghamshire County Council renews call for foster carers on one year anniversary of recruitment drive

Nottinghamshire County Council is inviting people to join one of its virtual information events as a campaign to recruit 200 new foster carers reaches its one-year anniversary.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The authority launched its Giving Children Roots campaign with a tree-planting event in Sherwood Forest last February and the initiative has so far seen 44 new carers sign up with others in the process of joining them.

Councillor Phillip Owen, chairman of the children and young people’s committee, said: “Nottinghamshire’s foster carers do an incredible job providing safe, nurturing homes for young people. But there are hundreds of children who need a stable family.

“More children have come into care since our event last year, as they do every year, so we have an ongoing need for more people to step forward as foster carers.”

He added: “So many people’s lives have been turned upside down by the pandemic but finding homes for children in care remains an urgent priority.

“There may be some people evaluating their lives and thinking about making changes for the future. Could that include potentially becoming a foster carer and giving a child a stable home? If you think you, or someone you know, could be a foster carer, I urge you get in touch.”

One of those to sign up on the back of the campaign was Kelly Hopley, from Mansfield, who had her first placements just before the first national lockdown began.

She said: “Fostering has changed the lives of our whole family in the most positive of ways. We enjoy supporting the children and find so much enjoyment in seeing them achieve their milestones.

Could you become a foster carer and help a child in Nottinghamshire put down stable roots for their future?Could you become a foster carer and help a child in Nottinghamshire put down stable roots for their future?
Could you become a foster carer and help a child in Nottinghamshire put down stable roots for their future?

“Our children are genuinely interested in their welfare. We would fully recommend fostering to anyone considering it.”

Foster carers receive weekly payments as well as other benefits, support and training to make sure they have the skills and techniques they need.

Since the first lockdown, the fostering recruitment team has switched to running virtual events for those thinking about fostering.

The sessions are held every three weeks, with the next one on Thursday, February 25, at 1:30pm.

For more information, go to www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/fostering or call 0115 8044440.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together.” – Nancy Fielder, editor.