Cambridgeshire County Council is getting active in support of the Fostering Network’s Foster Care Fortnight campaign this year to help find more people who can offer loving, stable homes for local young people in care.
Each year, the council’s Fostering Service participates in Foster Care Fortnight, the UK’s biggest foster care awareness raising campaign, which takes place this year from 15-28 May. Over those two weeks, the Fostering Service will be celebrating its ‘fostering communities’ - which include carers, children and young people, social workers, and staff - across the city by championing its local carers and care leavers, organising foster walks to raise awareness, and hosting an event to welcome new carers.
We spoke to Tracey and Paul, who foster for Cambridgeshire Council, about their experiences with fostering teenagers, and why it is so important that young people have good role models as they prepare for independence.
“Our own children had gone off to university,” said Paul. “Some had graduated, some had started university, and we had a choice really – what do we do with the space?”
“Actually fostering teenagers – they can be quite independent,” said Tracey. “They possibly don’t need quite as much looking after as a baby or a young person – they can be quite self-sufficient.”
However, Paul and Tracey know from experience how important a solid foundation is for young people who are getting ready to take their next step.
“At that crucial stage of their education,” Tracey explained, “we can advocate for them, we can make sure that their education is on track, and we can really get involved in that difference – and it does make a huge difference.”
“It’s been really nice to offer them the right sort of environment, consistency, and safety whilst they make very important choices,” Paul agreed.
“You are making a difference to a young person or child’s life,” Tracey concluded. “They might not have had that opportunity and you’re giving them that – and that’s something pretty special.”
Watch Tracey and Paul’s full video here on YouTube | Cambridgeshire County Council
We also spoke to a care leaver about how living with Foster Carers allowed them to stay local to their own community, and how their carer’s support helped them to develop the skills they needed to prepare for adulthood and move into higher education.
“When I first came into care, I was a scared little girl who struggled to make friends and in new environments I was extremely shy,” they said. “It took a lot of time, effort, and good, healthy relationship building but, thanks to a strong support system from my Foster Carers and Social Workers, I was able to gain my confidence and become who I am today.
“Now, I’m currently studying Policing at Derby University with a view to becoming a police officer,” they continued. “This way, I hope to give back to my community and show children who may struggle with coming into care that, with the right level of support and understanding from their fostering communities, they can still go on to achieve their dreams. My personal experience has only strengthened me to understand the trauma of others, which will make me a better cop one day.”
To promote the campaign, members of Cambridgeshire’s fostering communities will be participating in the Fostering Network’s annual ‘Foster Walk’, which will see staff and carers out and about in towns and cities across the UK to raise awareness.
The Cambridgeshire Foster Walks will take place at the following times and locations:
- 15 May, 12:30pm-1:30pm: Cambridge, Parkside Swimming Pool, Gonville Place, CB1 1LY
- 16 May, 2pm-3pm: St Neots, Riverside Car Park, PE19 7SD
- 19 May, 12pm-1pm: Wisbech, Queen Mary Centre, PE13 2PE
- 23 May, 12:30pm-1:30pm: Huntingdon, Scott House, PE29 3AD
The Fostering Service is also excited to welcome several new carers on 19 May at a celebration event.
Councillor Bryony Goodliffe, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee, said:
“We are incredibly lucky to have carers like Tracey fostering for us who understand how crucial it is for young people to have support and stability as they get ready for adulthood.
“The number of homes we need to find for young people remains high, which is why we’re delighted to welcome such fantastic carers this May, and hope that all the amazing work our staff and carers are doing to promote our Fostering Service during Foster Care Fortnight will mean that we’ll soon be welcoming more.”
As well as finding more homes for teenagers, we are looking for people to foster brothers and sisters, and children with disabilities.
To find out more about fostering for your local council, visit: Cambridgeshire County Council | Why foster with your local authority
The council also holds regular sessions, both virtually and face-to-face, where a Fostering Recruitment Officer, a Social Worker and an experienced Foster Carers will give an informal presentation to explain everything you need to know about fostering.
For upcoming session dates and to book yourself a free place, visit: Cambridgeshire County Council | Fostering | Sessions and events
