Running from 9 to 22 May, Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s biggest foster care awareness-raising campaign.

The annual campaign is co-ordinated by national charity, The Fostering Network, and highlights the incredible work foster carers do all over the UK.

The fortnight of activity helps to publicise the need for more foster families across the UK and provides an opportunity for Blackpool Council to appeal to dedicated, resilient and child-focused people to consider fostering for Blackpool.

This year’s Foster Care Fortnight theme is ‘fostering communities’ and is designed to shine a light on the many ways people across the fostering community support each other.

Foster care is at the heart of communities, enabling children to stay with foster families, local to everything they are familiar with already. Foster care provides vital care to children and young people in all communities. Foster carers also support each other and share skills and expertise.

The Fostering Network estimates 8,600 new foster carers are needed across the UK this year alone.

Currently, there are more than 70,000 children living with almost 56,000 fostering families in England. Every 20 minutes another child comes into care needing a foster family.

In Blackpool, there is a real need for more foster carers which is why Blackpool Council is asking individuals and families to come forward to find out more about fostering.

To meet the needs of local children in care, the council is looking to recruit step down foster carers to help children move from a residential children’s home to a foster home.

There is also a need for more foster carers to come forward who have the skills to specialise in fostering children with complex needs such as children with special additional needs.

The council is looking for a diverse range of fostering families from a variety of backgrounds who can provide a safe and loving environment for children and young people.

Foster carers benefit from excellent training and a full package of support, including enhanced generous allowances to cover the cost of caring for a child or young person, regular support groups, peer mentors for new carers, fostering forum meetings, an out of hours support and advice line, and a dedicated supervising social worker.

The help and advice offered by the experienced social work support team is tailored to each foster child and fostering family to ensure they are supported to offer the best possible care to our children.

Cllr Jim Hobson, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:

This is an opportunity to make a difference to a child’s life so if you and your family feel you are ready to join us on this journey please get in touch and have a chat with us.

For more information, visit www.blackpoolfostering.com or call 01253 420222