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Give a child a loving home for a night or two by becoming an emergency foster carer

Published: Tuesday, 1st March 2022

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is urging its residents to think about emergency fostering as over 900 children are currently in care across the city.

The city council is looking for people who have weekends or spare evenings free and want to make a difference to a child’s life.

Emergency foster placements are needed when children and young people need to be placed in emergency foster care, particularly when there's an immediate risk of harm at home. This can be where a child comes into care late in the evening or over the weekend. Emergency fostering is usually for just a night or two but can be for a little while longer.

Maggie Young who has been an emergency foster carer for Stoke-on-Trent City Council for one year said: “I have always been interested in fostering and wanted to give something back, however I am single and work full-time so emergency fostering suits my lifestyle best. By being an emergency foster carer, I am able to provide a child with a safe and loving home for a night or two whilst a social worker finds them a suitable placement.”

No matter how often a person can foster - emergencies only, short term or weekends, foster carers are immensely needed. The service is aspiring to recruit up to 36 new foster carers in 2022, but would welcome many more.

Councillor Dave Evans, cabinet member for children and young people said: “We are incredibly lucky in Stoke-on-Trent to have so many extraordinary people fostering for us, supporting children and other carers across our city. There are no words that do them justice, and I am in awe of everything they do for young people. But we need more, the difference you can make to our young people cannot be overstated: you can change a life. As a foster carer, you will have an opportunity to make a positive difference to the lives of children. We will provide you with all the support needed to build a brighter future for children and young people across Stoke-on-Trent.”

If you would like to know more about becoming a foster carer in Stoke-on-Trent visit www.fostering.stoke.gov.uk or call 01782 234555. 

The fostering team have some events taking place in March to give people an insight into being a foster carer, including:

  • Informal drop-in sessions at Starbucks, Wolstanton on Tuesday 15 March, 6:30pm to 8pm and at Starbucks, Smallthorne on Thursday 24 March, 10am to 11:30am.
  • Facebook Live chat on emergency foster carers on the city council’s Facebook page on Monday 14 March at 10:30am with Councillor Dave Evans, cabinet member for children and young people, and Kate Bailey, the council’s fostering service manager.