Fostering Fortnight fun day at market

12:00pm Saturday 17th May 2008

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FACE painting, balloon modelling and childrens' entertainment are just some of the treats in store for a fun day to celebrate Fostering Fortnight.

Fostering Fortnight runs from May 12 to 25 and aims to raise awareness of the benefits, challenges and rewards that fostering a young person can have for both the foster carer and the young person.

"I urge all those people who have thought about fostering to at least find out more."

Christine Turner

Fostering is a way of looking after children who are unable to live with their own families. Some children need to stay for a few days, others a few months and some older children need to be with a family until they become adults.

Foster carers can also offer short breaks to children with disabilities and their families.

More foster carers are needed throughout the borough and the fun day, taking place at Altrincham Market on Saturday May 24 between 9am and 3.30pm will be an opportunity for families, individuals or couples to come along, meet the team and find out more.

Foster carer Pat Myles has been fostering for nearly 16 years and has fostered 105 children in her time. She has four grown up children of her own but loves the rewards she gets from fostering.

She said: "I just love it! I get such a reward developing a child so that they can move on to their permanent placement."

Pat fosters up to three children at a time aged up to five-years-old, but foster carers are needed for youngsters of all ages.

Pat added: "I first thought about fostering when my daughter befriended a child who was living in a children's home, I realised I could look after children in her situation."

Executive Councillor for Children's Social Services, Christine Turner, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of Trafford's foster carers for the exceptional job they do for the young people they bring into their homes and care for.

"Sometimes it's not an easy job, some children have a whole host of issues that the foster carer needs to deal with but in my experience foster carers say the rewards of fostering far outweigh the issues. I urge all those people who have thought about fostering to at least find out more."

There are no qualifications necessary for fostering, just the qualities of enjoying being with children and young people, as well as being patient and tolerant with plenty of energy. There are no requirements to be married, have children or any direct previous experience.

Training and support is available from the family placement team and foster carers are paid an allowance for each young person they care for.

People interested in finding out more about fostering can either attend the fun day or complete an expression of interest form at www.trafford.gov.uk/HealthAndSocialCare/FosteringAdoptingAndLookedAfterChildren/Fostering or contact the family placement team on 0161 912 5050 Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 4.30pm.

hannah.al-taraboulsy@messengernewspapers.uk