FOSTER CARE FORTNIGHT 2024

We are just coming to the end of Foster Care Fortnight 2024. This couple of weeks is an important period in the fostering calendar for raising the profile of fostering and and highlighting how foster care transforms lives. And the need for new foster carers in the UK is a desperate situation. According to The Fostering Network via Ofsted, there are currently 100,437 children in care in the UK, which is 2,855 more children than in 2001. They say 6,500 new foster families are needed, but unfortunately there are currently 2,154 less foster carers than in 2001. These are sobering statistics!

However, this years theme of #FosteringMoments is a bit more encouraging and positive. #FosteringMoments celebrate the moments that define fostering journeys, big and small; those times that built confidence, made young people feel safe and created memories.

Here are some #Fostering Moments from one of our amazing foster carers:

 Another foster carer wrote, "It is lovely to see how children can change whilst in your care in so many ways. Physically, there are real improvements in their complexion, skin and hair as their diet improves. Some will put on a healthy weight where they have not had enough food before. They stop eating like every meal is their last, and learn to relax around eating meals together. They start looking up, less hunched showing more self-confidence when interacting with peers and adults. The greatest complement to us as carers is when the children are unrecognisable because they are visibly different, but most commonly because behaviours have changed. Because the children feel safe, in a known environment, they can be calm. They will also teach you new things- new songs, new places to visit and how to have relationships with their family. This brings healing to the whole family unit."

Some more #fosteringmoments our Foster Carers shared with us over the past couple of weeks are...

I'll finish with some encouraging words from another Cornerstone foster family as they reflect on their journey, which I think sum up this whole topic perfectly; "Foster Care is important to us as it's Gods heart for us to take care of His children in their hour of need. It is a blessing when we see them overcome pain and receive healing in ways many of us can't relate to but He can. Fostering is a journey. A journey that isn't for any particular moment or any particular day but one that is nurtured over time until one day you look back and smile at what God has done." :-)