Across the UK, hundreds of foster carers open their homes to provide love, stability, and care to children and young people in need. But many more foster carers are urgently needed to ensure every child can be matched with the right home for their individual needs.
That’s why, from 11-24 May, Diagrama Fostering is supporting The Fostering Network’s Foster Care Fortnight campaign – a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the incredible impact of foster care, and to encourage more people to consider becoming foster carers. It’s also a chance to say a big thank you to all foster carers for their remarkable dedication and call on the government for much needed change in the fostering sector.
This year’s theme ‘This is Fostering’ shines a light on the everyday realities of fostering, raising awareness of the profound impact foster carers have on children’s lives. It celebrates the skills, commitment and love they show, often in incredibly challenging circumstances.
Kate Patel, Head of Fostering for Diagrama Foundation said: “Foster Care Fortnight is an important opportunity to recognise the life-changing difference foster carers make every single day. At Diagrama Fostering, we see first-hand the dedication, resilience and compassion our carers bring to children and young people, often during some of the most challenging times in their lives.
This year’s theme, ‘This is Fostering’, perfectly captures the reality of fostering. It’s about providing stability, building trust, and creating a safe, nurturing environment where children can begin to thrive again.”
Sarah Thomas, Chief Executive of The Fostering Network, said: “The UK is in urgent need of more foster carers. Each year, we are losing more carers than we are gaining, and that simply isn’t sustainable. This Foster Care Fortnight, we will be encouraging people to consider fostering while saying a big thank you to our existing foster carers for everything they do.
“However, retaining existing foster carers is just as important as recruiting new ones. There is urgent need for change within the fostering system to ensure it’s sustainable for foster carers and the children they care for. We will be calling on the government to listen to foster carers across the UK and to help build a system in which they are truly valued and receive the support they need.
“Thank you to everyone who is helping us raise awareness of fostering during Foster Care Fortnight.”
To find out more about fostering with Diagrama, a not-for-profit agency, visit www.diagramafostering.org.uk or sign up for a free online fostering information event www.diagramafostering.org.uk/events