Appeal to boost number of foster carers in Peterborough

Nearly 1,000 children and young people across the county and city need the love and stability that fostering offers.

With only 300 households across both local authorities offering fostering, Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council have joined forces to ask for more people to come forward and become foster carers.

Simon Gledhill (33), who currently fosters two children with his wife Laura, said: “Christmas isn’t something that every child and young person associates with happy memories, so as foster carers we try to make this time extra special and offer the security and love from a family, which is something we can all take for granted.

"My wife and I had talked about fostering long before we applied. We had a spare bedroom and we felt that we could offer a safe loving family to a child that desperately needed it. We had some friends that fostered and they encouraged us to stop thinking about it, and start doing it. So we did!"

"I know that most people who apply to foster say that they have been thinking about it for years before they apply. So if you are thinking about it for the future, I'd encourage you to ask yourself 'why not now?'.”

Simon and Laura have fostered children and teenagers during their time as foster carers with Cambridgeshire County Council over the last five years.

Councillor Simon Bywater, Chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee said: “We’re proud to be part of this campaign to raise awareness of the need for more foster carers.

“When you foster for your local council you are part of a strong and committed team, and the needs of our children and young people are at the heart of everything that we do.

“We are very grateful to all our foster carers, not only at Christmas, but all year round.”

Councillor Lynne Ayres, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member for children's services added: “I want to appeal to the community to consider fostering, to find out how you can offer some of our most vulnerable children and young people love, support and a safe home where they can be themselves.

“I would encourage anyone who thinks they could provide a stable and loving home for a child or young person to take the first step and get in touch.”

“People who believe they can make a positive difference are encouraged to contact their council today. All carers receive training, 24-hour access to support, along with allowances and the assessment process normally takes between 4-6 months. You will need to be over 21 and have a spare bedroom in your home.”

Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council encourage you to find out more about fostering, visit: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/fostering www.peterborough.gov.uk/fosteing call 0800 052 0078 or text FOSTERING to 60777