A recruitment drive to attract new foster carers in Liverpool is getting underway.
As part of Foster Care Fortnight, a drop-in event is taking place at Liverpool Town Hall on Tuesday 13 May from 5pm-7pm for people who are interested to find out more. There are also events at selected Children’s Centres throughout the next couple of weeks.
At the event, Christian charity ‘Home for Good’ – which campaigns to encourage the church community in Liverpool to consider fostering and adoption – presented city leaders with a portrait of 30 keys to illustrate the launch of a commitment to recruit 30 new foster carers in Liverpool.
Cabinet member for children’s services, Councillor Jane Corbett, said: “Our team of foster carers do an amazing job providing a loving home for some of our most vulnerable children.
“However, we really need more people to come forward and support us, so I’m delighted that Home for Good have offered to help find us 30 new foster carers and adopters from within the local church community.
“People can come from all sorts of backgrounds and all walks of life – what matters is that they are willing to help care for our children in a safe and loving environment.
“They deserve the very best support that we can offer, and that is why we are doing all we can to recruit and support foster carers.”
Helenor Watson from Home for Good said: “Adopters and foster carers from churches across the city are coming together to raise the profile of vulnerable children in Liverpool.
“We are encouraging as many people as possible to step forward to offer forever homes for all the children that need them in Liverpool.
“We have been inspired through the Home for Good campaign by churches in Southampton who managed to recruit 63 foster families in a year.
“There will also be a pop up portrait gallery at Central Library from 14 May challenging stereotypes about who can foster.”
Information events are also taking place at the following Children’s Centres across the city:
Monday 12 May: Childwall (9:30am – 2:30pm) and Everton (9am – 3pm)
Tuesday 13 May: Liverpool Town Hall (5 – 7pm)
Thursday 15 May: Belle Vale Children’s Centre (9:30am – 2:30pm)
Friday 16 May: Speke Children’s Centre (9:30am – 2:30pm)
Monday 19 May: Yew Tree Children’s Centre (10am – 2pm)
Tuesday 20 May: Dingle Lane Children’s Centre (9am – 3pm)
Wednesday 21 May: Kensington Children’s Centre (10am – 2pm)
Thursday 22 May: Clubmoor Children’s Centre (10am – 2pm)
Friday 23 May: Ellergreen Children’s Centre (10am – 2pm)
The city council has recently introduced a professional fees allowance of up to £23,000 per year for foster carers to increase the recruitment and retention of foster carers, and recognise the high degree of professionalism needed to do the job.
They now receive up to £444 per week in recognition of the knowledge and expertise they bring to the care of looked after children, in addition to weekly age-related allowances of up to £203.75 per child.
People interested in fostering can visit http://www.fosteringforliverpool.co.uk to find out more or call the recruitment line on 0151 515 0000.
Foster carers need to be aged over 21, but there is no upper age limit. They can be single, married or co-habiting, straight or gay.
