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Foster care heroes needed as the number of children in care rises during the pandemic

Published: Monday, 10th May 2021

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is making an urgent call to recruit new foster carers as the city recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

There is a huge need for more foster carers in Stoke-on-Trent with 1014 cared for children currently in the city, an increase sadly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The city council is now marking Foster Care Fortnight as part of its recruitment drive. It already supports 425 fostering families across the city, but urgently needs to recruit more carers to help to provide children with loving homes and keep them in the area where they live with familiar surroundings.

The city council also has a high need for therapeutic foster carers- those who can care for children with complex needs and challenging behaviour. Therapeutic foster care allows the opportunity for children and young people to be able to develop and grow through extra assistance, while being cared for in a secure home. 


Councillor Dave Evans, cabinet member for children and young people said: “The need to find foster carers and loving homes for children is very high. More than ever we are urging those who might have been thinking about fostering for a while, or those who may not have previously considered it but feel they can offer a loving home, to begin the process now. We are committed to supporting vulnerable children and we want to ensure that we give all our cared for children and young people the best possible start.

“There really is no typical foster carer. Anyone can come forward and make such a big difference in a child’s life regardless of age, gender, religious or cultural background, sexual orientation or if you are married, single or divorced. Our friendly team will be more than happy to talk you through the process step-by-step.”

Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s biggest foster care awareness raising campaign, delivered by fostering charity The Fostering Network. It takes place between Monday 10 May and Sunday 23 May, with this year’s theme being #WhyWeCare.

If you would like to know more about becoming a foster carer in Stoke-on-Trent then why not start your fostering journey by visiting www.stoke.gov.uk/fostering or calling 01782 234555. Virtual events are taking place over the fortnight to give people an insight into being a foster carer and a Facebook Live chat on the city council’s Facebook page will be on Thursday 20 May at 4:30pm with Councillor Dave Evans and fostering team manager Kate Bailey.