Barnardo's launches campaign to recruit foster carers as situation reaches critical point
Children’s charity Barnardo's is urgently looking to recruit an extra 850 foster carers in Scotland to tackle the “critical” shortfall which leaves one in three children in care having to move homes more than twice a year.
The charity says at least 8,600 new foster carers are needed throughout the UK with the number of children in the care system across the country having gone up for the eighth year in a row to more than 90,000.
It has launched a recruitment drive, to coincide with Fostering and Adoption Week, which will see celebrities reveal childhood pictures and memories in a bid to tug on the heart strings of would be foster carers.
It is hoped they will inspire people to consider becoming foster carers and help create happy childhood memories for some of the most vulnerable children in the UK.
Barnardo’s Scotland director Martin Crewe said: “Currently a third of all children in foster care are moved between different families more than twice every year due to the lack of suitable foster carers.
Currently a third of all children in foster care are moved between different families more than twice every year due to the lack of suitable foster carers
“It is a critical situation and Barnardo’s is looking for people with patience and commitment to provide a stable home for the most vulnerable children in the UK. Fostering is a caring career and I would encourage those who feel they have a lot of love to give to get in touch.”
Using the celebrity pictures, including of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here winner Christopher Biggins and Birds of a Feather’s Linda Robson, Barnardo’s is staging projection stunts throughout this week on the busiest high streets in Edinburgh, Newcastle and Cardiff.
It is targeting commuters, January sales shoppers and evening revellers in all three cities, giving a glimpse into the early life of some of the nation’s favourite celebrities.
Crewe added: “Most of us can remember the advice and support we received from our family growing up. Without the right foster family to care for them, many vulnerable children may never experience the kind of love and stability we take for granted.”
There is no upper age limit to becoming a foster carer although there is a minimum age of 21. Barnardo’s does not exclude anyone from consideration on the grounds of marital status, gender, sexual orientation, disability or employment status.
To find out more about fostering visit barnardos.org.uk/fostering or call 08000 277 280.
