Foster Care Fortnight 2013 – Put yourself in the picture

 

Cheshire East Council is asking residents to ‘put themselves in the picture’ when it comes to fostering.

Foster Care Fortnight runs from May 13-26, with the aim of recruiting more carers to reduce the shortfall of 9,000 foster carers that are needed nationally. Over the next year, 35 new foster carer households are needed in Cheshire East.

One of the main messages is that there no such thing as your ‘average’ foster carer and inquiries are encouraged regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality and marital or employment status.

Cheshire East Council provides foster carers with full training and continuing practical, emotional and financial support.

The theme of this year’s campaign is ‘put yourself in the picture’ and the Council is looking for 916 people to upload a picture of themselves on to Facebook to show support.

This is the number of new foster carers that will be needed across the country over the two-week period.

During Foster Care Fortnight, Council officers will be out and about across the Borough speaking to people. Information stalls will be present in the following locations:

· May 14 – Market Centre Shopping Centre, Crewe, 10am to 3pm;

· May 16 – Handforth Dean Shopping Centre, 10am to 3pm;

· May 17 – Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Macclesfield, 10am to 3pm;

· May 21 – Tesco, Congleton, 10am to 3pm;

· May 26 – Treacle Market, Macclesfield, 10am to 3pm

For those people wanting to find out more, they can attend one of our information events at Westfields, Sandbach, on Monday, May 20, at 12.30pm or 6.00pm.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cabinet member in charge of children and families, said: “I hope Foster Care Fortnight encourages more people with the right skills and qualities to start their journey as a foster carer.

“Becoming a foster carer is not a decision to be taken lightly – but the rewards can be immense.

“If people have a spare bedroom and think they can offer stability, love and fun to a young person, I would urge them to get in touch with us.”

To show your support, and to be in with a chance to win an iPad mini, upload your photo to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spaces-4-Faces-Cheshire-East-Council/149721781763740

For more information you can also visit: www.spacesforfaces.co.uk or call 0300 123 3223.