Local foster carers are appealing to anyone who has ever considered fostering and lives in and around our city, to join their supportive community to help keep children close to familiar surroundings.
As part of this latest appeal, a group of Southend foster carers agreed to be featured in the council's latest recruitment campaign. The campaign highlights the council's improved financial rewards package, including council tax exemption, that is available to help make foster carers' homes more affordable in recognition for the invaluable support they provide to the young people of the city. The campaign also highlights the advice the council's foster carers would give to anyone considering fostering.
Debbie wasn't sure she could foster as a single parent, but she has been a foster carer with the council for over nine years now and has found it extremely rewarding and fulfilling to help the children she has cared for feel safe enough to enjoy childhood. Her daughter is grown up and no longer lives at home, so she is loving doing all the fun things again with the young children she cares for such as attending school plays, reading stories, swimming, dancing and playing.
Debbie wished she'd found out about fostering sooner and said: “I'm hopeful the new financial rewards will encourage more people to foster. I put off finding out about fostering because I wasn't sure I could foster as a single parent; I wish I'd done it sooner as it's so rewarding. As a single parent the extra money from the council does help and not having to pay my council tax is a huge bonus and makes me feel even more valued.
"If anyone out there is thinking about fostering, I would really encourage them to get in touch – you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Fostering definitely keeps me young and it's amazing to be part of a child's development through their formative years.”
Graham and his wife Marian have been fostering for over 10 years and both feel privileged to have helped many teenagers grow in self-confidence and to believe that they can achieve their life goals and ambitions. Graham believes teenagers are often misunderstood and makes sure he listens to how they are feeling and works through any worries and anxieties and helps them to recognise the good times too.
Graham shared his views about the new rewards package and said: “The new reward package is great especially the extra money to help celebrate birthdays and Christmas and money towards a family holiday. My wife and I both feel honoured to be part of the teenagers we have cared for lives.
"The extra money we now get helps us to celebrate key milestone with them. When we received our council tax bill last year with a zero balance, it was a great feeling, and it does make our fostering home more affordable. My advice to anyone thinking about fostering is find out about it - the teenagers we have cared for have really changed our lives too for the better.”
Councillor Helen Boyd, cabinet member for children's services, education and learning, said: “It's truly humbling to hear the difference our foster carers make to the lives of the children they care for. I'm passionate about making sure all children in Southend-on-Sea have the childhood they deserve, and I'm so pleased to hear that the improved financial rewards we now offer make our foster carers feel more valued. The support they provide to the young people in our city is invaluable.
"If you have space in your heart and home and want a rewarding and fulfilling career and life as a foster carer, please get in touch with our fostering team, who would be delighted to talk to you.”
The council's fostering team regularly hold free information events for anyone interested in fostering. The team along with the council's foster carers explain more about the support and training available and provide a real insight into fostering. The next information events are being held on Thursday 29 February and Thursday 14 March.
To find out more and register please visit the Southend Fostering website or email fostering@southend.gov.uk