Foster care fortnight begins in Tower Hamlets
Tuesday, 13 May 2008 08:27
Foster Care Fortnight - organised by the Fostering Network charity is a national awareness raising campaign that aims to encourage people to realise they may already have the qualities necessary to become a great foster carer.
Fostering involves sharing the care of someone else’s child with the child’s parents and the council. There is a constant need for foster carers in Tower Hamlets, as children may need fostering at any time for many different reasons.
For example, some children need to be cared for whilst their parents are ill or in prison. Others may have been abused or neglected and need the help of foster carers so they can grow up confidently and safely.
Tower Hamlets Council is now looking for foster carers from all backgrounds. There are children of all ages in the borough that need the support of a foster carer, but the council is particularly looking for people to care for teenagers, children with disabilities and groups of children e.g. brothers and sisters.
It doesn’t matter if you are single, unemployed, disabled or gay or lesbian – what matters is that you have the time, patience and energy to help care for a child at a difficult time of their life.
There are currently over 100 foster families in the borough, with various different types of arrangements in place. For example, a short-term fostering arrangement could see a child staying with a foster carer or family for just two days. Longer term placements may be needed for children from families unable to provide a safe family environment due to deteriorating health or other reasons.
Mohammed and Maymun Rahman have been foster carers in Tower Hamlets for just over a year, and say the role is not easy, but can be rewarding.
“To look after any child, whoever they are is very challenging. But you learn more every day and you begin to learn how to cope with the challenges that you face.” Said Mohammed.
“It’s challenging, but we enjoy it very much and we all enjoy each other’s company. If children are our future, we need to help them when they need it.”
Foster carers will receive training throughout their placements, and will also be fully supported by a council social worker to ensure they have all the skills and knowledge to help them care for children safely. Regular meetings with other local foster carers are also arranged, so carers can share experiences and learn from others in a similar position to themselves.
Kamini Rambellas, Service Head for Children’s Social Care at Tower Hamlets Council is urging those interested in foster care to contact the council:
“We’re keen to speak to anyone that feels they have the time, passion and energy to become a foster carer.
It’s a big responsibility and each different placement has its own different challenges, but is very rewarding and helps children and families at time when they most need it.”
People interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer in Tower Hamlets can attend an information session at Idea Store Chrisp Street, from 6 until 8 pm on Monday 19 May. Staff will be on hand to answer any questions on becoming a foster carer in confidence.
Alternatively, people can call 0800 279 9850 for an informal chat about fostering or visit www.fosteringandadoption.co.uk for more information.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
• For more information please contact Tony Finnegan, Communications Officer at Tower Hamlets Council on 020 7364 1961 or on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• 60,000 children in England were registered as looked after on 31 March 2007
• Over two thirds of these children (42,300 or 70 per cent) were living with foster carers
• There are approximately 37,000 foster carers in England
• The Fostering Network estimates there is a shortage of at least 8,200 foster carers
• Three out of four fostered children return to live with there own families
Tags: east end life
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