Foster Care Fortnight in Sussex

Foster Care Fortnight takes place from 17th to 30th May.

It's a chance to praise the people already providing a safe, secure and loving home to hundreds of young people in need.

Couples like Sarah and Marc Baker from Peacehaven, who have three young children of their own, have been fostering since December 2001 and have provided a home for more than 20 children. They have just been approved as permanent carers for two children needing long term foster care.

Sarah said her parents had also been foster carers when she was growing up and she saw the difference it made to the children they cared for. "I wanted to be able to do the same and making a difference to just one child’s life is great. If we can just give a bit of happiness when some of these children have had so much trouble in their lives it is all worth it."

More carers like Sarah and Marc are needed who can provide long term or even permanent care for young people. In particular councils in Sussex are particularly keen to find anyone who might be interested in being a foster carer for:

*       teenagers,
*       brother and sister groups,
*       parent and baby placements,
*       longer term or permanent placements
*       disabled children (full-time or respite)

Anyone, regardless of age, background and culture, can apply to become a foster carer as long as they have the skills, experience and space needed to look after children. The councils provides training and continuous support.

Brighton & Hove City Council’s fostering team is going out and about with three ‘meet the people’ information events to mark Fostering Fortnight from 17 to 30 May.

You can meet the team and get answers to any questions you may have about fostering on:

·        Monday 17 May from 9am to 2pm at Sainsbury’s West Hove branch – ‘drop-in’ session

·        Tuesday 25 May from 7pm to 9pm at Church House, 211 New Church Road, Hove – information session with current foster carers also on hand to answer questions

·        Saturday 29 May from 9am to 2pm at the Holmbush Centre in Shoreham – ‘drop-in’ session.

If you are interested - get in touch with your local council:

East Sussex - call 01323 747 499 or visit www.eastsussex.gov.uk/fostering

Brighton and Hove - phone the council's fostering team for a friendly chat on 01273 295444, email fostering@brighton-hove.gov.uk, or visit www.fosteringinbrightonandhove.org.uk

West Sussex - www.westsussex.gov.uk/fostering or call 01403 246484