Hull City Council is celebrating the wonderful world of fostering for this year’s national Fostering Fortnight (15th-28th May) celebrations.
Being a foster carer is one of the most worthwhile and rewarding roles a person can do.
Hull has one of the largest populations of looked after children in the country, which brings its own unique challenges when it comes to finding safe and loving homes for children and young people.
There is a national shortage of foster carers and Hull is no different. The council is calling on more potential people to consider joining its fostering community to provide safe and loving homes to children and young people in care.
To be considered, you just need to meet the following criteria:
- 21 years old or older (there is no upper age limit)
- have your own home or renting with a spare bedroom (unless you specifically wish to foster babies up to 18 months old and then they can remain in the same bedroom as the carer)
- live in or within 30 miles of Hull
Tracey Evans, foster carer from Hull, said: “We became foster carers to help out during the COVID-19 pandemic, thinking that we would help for a few weeks. Three years later, we are stilling fostering children and young people. The experience has been hard work at times, but it’s so rewarding to see the difference you can make to that young person in your care.
“Foster children and young people are not trouble, they are troubled due to their lived experiences. We didn’t realise at the start of our fostering journey that smalls things could make such a big difference, for example just having a meal at the table and chatting or going to the pub after walking the dogs. They mean so much to a looked after child and supports them in feeling safe, maybe even for the first time in their lives.”
Hull Fostering are strongly committed to working with Hull foster carers and supported lodgings providers to support them to ensure they can provide a safe, secure and supported environment for all looked after children.
They offer six different types of fostering to suit different homes, family dynamics and life commitments.
Hull’s foster caring community are an amazing, diverse community from a wide range of different backgrounds, lifestyles, relationships statuses and professions.
To find out what it is really like to foster, watch this short video featuring foster carer Nora. You can also register to join us at one of our online information events:
If you would like more information on fostering, please visit www.hullfostering.co.uk, call 01482 612 800 or email fostering@hullcc.gov.uk, the team would love to hear from you.
