Select a region
A free movie weekend and drop-in sessions will help raise awareness of fostering.
The Fostering Network’s annual awareness campaign, Foster Care Fortnight, is taking place from the 15 May across the UK.
The free movie weekend will take place at The Mallard on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May.
Senior Supervising Social Worker Vicki Tennant, who focuses on recruitment and retention of carers, said:
“This year we have been really lucky to be supported by some great organisations to enable us to have drop-ins for people who are interested in fostering. Our main event to raise awareness of the need for fostering is being supported by The Mallard Cinema who are hosting a free movie weekend that is open to all.
“We will have staff and carers on hand before and after the movies for anyone who would like to find out more about fostering and the other services we provide.”
Tickets need to be booked as normal through the Mallard website.
Despicable Me will be shown at 10.30am and Annie at 1pm on the Saturday and Instant Family at 2pm on the Sunday.
The Family Placement Service will also be holding drop-in sessions about fostering:
Currently, there are 29 children living with 26 foster families in Guernsey.
The reasons children come into care varies widely, including a parent’s illness or another problem which means they can’t be cared for by their own family. Some children may have witnessed domestic violence or drug abuse, and others may have been abused or neglected.
Vicki Tennant said: “Foster Care Fortnight and the drop ins are being held along with several other initiatives and events throughout the year publicised through our social media page (Guernsey Foster Care and Adoption) to raise awareness of fostering in Guernsey and to encourage the recruitment of new foster carers.
“If anyone has an event where we could attend or join in as part of raising awareness of the need for foster carers, then please let us know.”
Karen Reade, Team Manager of the Family Placement Service, said: “Foster carers make a huge difference to the lives of children and young people in our community at a time when they can’t live with their own families, and they need care and support. I have been working with foster carers for over 30 years and I have seen the incredible difference they make.
The Family Placement Service will be running its next Skills to Foster course on the 16th -18th June.
This is a pre-approval preparation course for people who are interested in becoming foster carers, designed to offer insight into fostering and the roles and responsibilities.
The Family Placement Service would also like to hear from anyone interested in the Supported Lodgings scheme and is looking for mentors to take on this supportive role. This scheme is designed to offer an additional provision for young people who are ready to leave care but may not be ready to live alone.
The Family Placement Service would like to hear from any individual or families who are able to provide accommodation and support for young people aged 18-21 years old.
If you are interested in fostering, email change@guernseyfostercare.com, call 01481 223182 or e-mail the team familyplacementservice@gov.gg.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.