Each year the Fostering Network supports fostering agencies in recruiting the additional foster carers that are required for children in public care.
Every 20 minutes across the UK a child comes into care in need of a fostering family. This equates to 1,008 children during the two weeks of Fostering Fortnight.
Fostering Fortnight is an opportunity to join nationwide coverage campaigning to get the recruitment message out to a wider audience and to build on Manchester’s existing recruitment work. Together they are essential in achieving the target of increasing the number of children in in house foster placements.
Fostering is at the heart of the Council’s approach to caring for vulnerable children: the focus on the financial position and improving outcomes for children is an important driver over the next 3 years.
Objectives of the campaign
The theme for this year’s Foster Care Fortnight is ‘Time to foster, time to care’. The Recruitment and Assessment Team, working in close partnership with the Councils Communication Team, have planned an exciting and wide reaching programme of activity.
The campaign aims to increase the awareness of the need for foster carers in Manchester by broad cross-council communication and engagement. This will be supported by targeted localised activity based on the groups and communities that are best placed to meet the needs of children requiring care. This targeted activity will focus on attracting a younger profile of carer, potential BME carers and those living in housing that is appropriate to caring for sibling groups.
Foster carers will join with staff at ten Drop-In Sessions advertised on the Manchester City Council website inviting members of the public to come and talk about the role of a foster carer, and the support package offered. The events cover Wythenshawe, Moss Side, Longsight, Chorlton, Didsbury, Crumpsall, Whalley Range, Blackley and Gorton. The events will take place in libraries, markets and faith groups in both day and evening.
For further information, visit: www.manchester.gov.uk/info/159/fostering
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 Fostering Fortnight Briefing.doc | 32.5 KB |