Your opportunity to make a change
Tuesday 12 December
Essex County Council signals fostering as New Year opportunity to make a real change
This New Year, Essex County Council is encouraging people to seize the opportunity to make a change by fostering a vulnerable child. The Council has reported a rising number of children coming into care in Essex, and the need for safe, loving homes is stronger than ever.
In 2022, over 500 children entered care, meaning the need for foster carers is now greater than it ever has been. Almost half of young people in care are aged 16 to 17, but there are children of all ages who are in need of a loving home.
Essex County Council offers a full programme of training and support to ensure that foster carers are equipped with everything they need to look after their placements. Every foster carer’s situation is different, which is why the Council is committed to tailoring its support to meet their needs and goals.
Earlier this year, the Council increased carers’ fees by 9% to reflect its dedication to providing the best support for those who foster.
Children come into care for many reasons, including unstable or unsafe family settings, as a refugee fleeing conflict in their home country, or if they have disabilities and additional needs where their parents require extra support.
Local foster carers, care leavers and children who are currently in foster care have spoken out about their experiences in a bid to challenge perceptions and inspire other foster carers to make a change to a child’s life.
As one foster carer, Liz, explains, fostering provides “The ability to change a life, to make the trajectory of a child’s life different, and to help nurture a child.”
Offering a stable, harmonious household to vulnerable children can be the steppingstone they need to a better future.
Cllr Beverley Egan, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Early Years at Essex County Council, said: “Essex County Council is proud of the remarkable change foster carers make to the lives of vulnerable children across the county. It would be fantastic to see more adults become foster carers and provide children with a caring home and the tools they need for life ahead.”
Foster care leaver Kerry credits her bright future to her foster carer. “My foster mum made me believe that I could achieve. I got my degree, and now I‘ve got my own home, I’ve got a little baby, my son, and I feel like I’ve accomplished everything that I want.”
Find out more about fostering
Hear more from Essex County Council's foster carers and fostering processes.
Join an online fostering event or find an-person event near you.
Alternatively, call 0800 801 530 for more information.
ENDS
For more information, please contact sophie.king@genesispr.co.uk
Notes to editors:
- For more information about fostering visit https://www.essexadoptionandfostering.co.uk/fostering/?utm_medium=GenesisNews&utm_campaign=44950&utm_source=PressRelease&utm_content=Homepage&utm_term=
- or call 0800 801 530.
- Find more information about Essex County Council events here: https://www.essexadoptionandfostering.co.uk/fostering/events?utm_medium=GenesisNews&utm_campaign=FosteringJan&utm_source=Pressrelease&utm_content=events&utm_term=
- Essex County Council needs to recruit 60 new foster carers each year for the next 3 years.