Foster Care Fortnight - celebrating the unsung heroes

Foster Care Fortnight take places from May 11 until May 25. Its aim is to raise awareness of the vital role foster carers play in society  and call out for people who may want to give a child a home.
The Fraher familyThe Fraher family
The Fraher family

The work of foster carers is being highlighting by West Sussex County Council as they share their experiences during the current coronavirus pandemic.

John and Claire Fraher are currently fostering a young child with the help of their birth children Amelia, 14, Thomas, 12, and Harry, 10.

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John said: “Fostering during lockdown has given us an insight into the uncertainty and fear that many children face on a daily basis.

“Deciding to foster is the best choice we could have made as a family, it has changed our lives in ways we never could’ve imagined.”

Claire added: “Fostering is a privilege and a joy. An opportunity to grant a vulnerable child a safe place to thrive and grow, to relax and just be a child again; to let them know that they are loved unconditionally, and that we genuinely care about their future.”

Foster Care Fortnight is UK charity The Fostering Network’s annual campaign to raise awareness of the extraordinary dedication and work of foster carers at this time, while calling for more people to come forward to foster.

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Every year thousands more foster families are needed across the UK to make sure fostered children can live with the right carer for them.

So, anyone who thinks they might have the skills and experience to become a foster carer is urged to contact their local fostering services.

Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, said: “Foster care transforms the lives of children and young people as well as those of foster carers and their families. This has never been more important.

“Foster carers help children and young people flourish and fulfil their potential, as well as provide a vital service to our society. Because this happens mainly in the privacy of their own homes – especially at the moment – their contributions too often go unnoticed.

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“Foster Care Fortnight is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the work of foster families as well as recognising how transformational foster care can be for the children and young people who need it.”

Sophie and Scott have a busy seven-child household with children aged six months to 16 years old.

They foster three children, have three siblings they’ve adopted and have an eight-year-old birth daughter.

Sophie was 21 and Scott 22 when they began fostering and eight months ago they transferred from an agency because they felt fostering with West Sussex County Council gave them the opportunity of priority placements.

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“We like being busy,” Sophie said. “My mum fostered since I was seven, it made me the person I am today so I was always going to foster children.

“We like looking after babies with health needs. My husband and I work as a team, we just love looking after children and our four kids get so much out of it too.”

Sophie added: “The support we get from the council as a whole family is superb, our social worker is brilliant, if ever I need her she’s there.”

Jacquie Russell, cabinet member for Children and Young People, said: “As we make our way through these unprecedented times, I have noticed that there is much praise - particularly in the national media - for our NHS staff and care workers and rightly so.

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“However, I have also noticed that there is very little said about the work undertaken by the nation’s foster carers.

“I’ve had the opportunity to speak with foster carers and understand the impact covid is having on their daily lives. They are by true definition our unsung heroes and we cannot thank them enough.”

Scott Anderson and Mark Popkiewicz have only just begun fostering sibling boys and say fostering during lockdown is having its advantages for all the family.

Scott said: “Fostering means giving a child a positive experience within a loving home with structure, rules and boundaries combined with emotional support.”

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Mark added: “Seeing them develop and process their own emotions and processing what’s happening is very rewarding.”

West Sussex County Council offers many different types of foster care, from short to longer term, single placements and sibling as well as parent-and-child. There remains a huge need for more foster carers in West Sussex, and sadly the result of the coronavirus pandemic could lead to more children needing foster homes.

The recruitment team remains available to answer questions and take enquiries, with initial visits now taking place virtually. Call 0330 222 7775 or visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/fostering where you will find our information session online.

For more inspiring stories throughout Foster Care Fortnight, like the @WSCCFostering Facebook page and follow @FosterWSCC on Twitter.

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To find out how you can support Foster Care Fortnight go to thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/fcf20 For information about becoming a foster carer please visit thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/could-you-foster

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