Could you provide a home for a young person?
20/01/2012
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is asking people if they could make time and space in their lives this year to become foster carers. Fostering provides children who cannot live with their own families a loving, safe and stable home. This could be for a short time, or longer term until the young person reaches independence.Martin McGrath, Head of Family Placement Services for the Trust says: “There are over 300 children living with foster carers across the area, but we need to continually recruit a wide range of carers to meet the ongoing need. You can be a foster carer; whether you are married, single or cohabiting; rent or own your home; work or receive benefits. We are looking for ordinary people who can provide a loving home and support a young person who may have been through some difficult family circumstances.
“The Trust needs foster carers to look after children of all ages and backgrounds but at the moment we would particularly like to recruit more carers for children with disabilities and teenagers.”
Foster carers receive ongoing training, 24 hour support and financial allowances to help them with their caring role.
If you care about children, are interested in fostering and would like more information, you can contact your local Family Placement Team:
Armagh and Dungannon Tel: (028) 8775 2033
Craigavon and Banbridge Tel: 028) 3833 7181
Newry and Mourne Tel: 028 3083 2693
Freephone: 0800 0270137 or visit www.fostering.hscni.net