MP supports Foster Care Fortnight 11-24 May

Robert Walter MP (North Dorset) met with members of Dorset County Council’s Fostering Team and foster carers from across North Dorset on Friday, 15 May, for a coffee morning at Goldhill Organic Farm, Child Okeford, to highlight National Foster Care Fortnight.

The MP joined Manager Graham Jones, who has overall responsibility for the fostering service in Dorset, and Fostering Team Manager Ginny Daniells.  He  also met a wide range of carers based across North Dorset and members of the Foster Carers Forum  who offered an insight into the challenges and huge rewards that fostering can bring.

As well as being an informative and sociable morning, Friday’s visit highlighted the national campaign to address an impending rise in the shortage of foster carers. A rise that is already impacting upon Bob’s North Dorset constituency, where more foster carers are already desperately needed.

Bob also discussed some of the issues and challenges carers face in North Dorset and praised them for their, “fantastic work and contribution.” Bob was pleased to hear about a successful bid for 100 new laptops for children in care, which will help with learning and development.

There are just over 70,000 children and young people in public care on any given day in the UK, almost 50,000 of whom live with 43,000 foster families. A report published on 11 May by the UK’s Fostering Network, entitled ‘The Age of Foster Care’, showed that around 65 per cent of all foster carers are between 50 and 80 years of age and due to retire in the next ten to 15 years. Although there is rightly no upper age limit, this will mean a worsening future for foster care if these dedicated individuals cannot be replaced.

After the visit Bob said:

“I am delighted to be able to add my voice to National Foster Carers Fortnight and to offer my support to Dorset’s Fostering Service and the carers they support.

“Being a foster carer is challenging but incredibly rewarding.

“It is vital that we all do our bit to raise awareness of the opportunities that foster care brings – for those who give care and for those who receive it – and to encourage more people to consider themselves for this important role, which can make such a difference to a young person’s life”.