Fostering Appeal coming to public transport in Mid-Ulster

The Foster Mascots on the advertising campaign.

With a significant increase in the number of children coming into care in Northern Ireland over the last five years, HSC Trusts are launching a regional bus advertising campaign asking the public the question: ‘Could YOU foster?’

More foster families are urgently required to provide safe, stable and nurturing homes for vulnerable children and young people across Northern Ireland for as long as they need them.

Foster homes are needed for children and young people who are unable to live with their own families. This may be a result of family breakdown, relationship difficulties, neglect, abuse or parental ill health.

Trusts needs to recruit and maintain a wide pool of foster carers to keep up with the rising demand and place every child / young person with skilled carers within their own areas who best meet their individual needs.

Fostering teams welcome enquiries from anyone who has a desire to help a child / young person through a difficult time in their lives. Foster carers may be married, single or have a partner, own or rent their home, work or claim benefits, and may or may not have children of their own. There is no upper age limit to who can foster provided a person is healthy and has the energy to devote to a child / young person’s needs.

There is a particular need at present for foster families who can offer a child / young person a long term home when they are unable to live with their parents in the immediate or near future.

Marie Roulston Director of Children’s Services Northern Trust said “Fostering provides children who cannot live with their own families with a loving and stable home; it need not necessarily be a full time commitment. In the Northern Trust we need more foster carers for children who require long term placements and weekend respite care”.

All HSC foster carers receive financial allowances, ongoing learning and development opportunities and 24 hour social work support.

The five HSC Trusts are looking to recruit people who are patient, understanding, compassionate and flexible. If you have time and space in your life for fostering call 0800 0720 137, your local fostering team on 02827661521 or enquire online at www.adoptionandfostering.hscni.net.