DROP-IN SESSIONS FOR WOULD-BE FOSTER CARERS

Independent foster agency Banya is inviting anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer to drop-in sessions in London and Birmingham as part of Foster Care Fortnight.

The team want to raise awareness of a career in fostering and to help highlight the positive impact it has on both children’s lives and society at large. There is a shortage of foster carers across the UK, particularly around large urban areas and having a safe home to live in can change a child’s life for the better. 

“We want people to come along who are interested in finding out more about foster caring,” said Banya’s Ruzivo Gangaidzo.

 “We’ll have several people from Banya at each session available to answer questions, and to offer honest and accurate accounts of what it is like to become a foster carer, so that anyone attending will leave the session knowing more about fostering than they had imagined.”

The sessions take place on Friday May 26:

• Birmingham: Edgbaston Community Centre on Woodview Drive, B15 2HU. From 11 am to 2 pm. This will be led by Ruzivo Gangaidzo. 
• London: 1 Croxted Mews, 286A-288 Croxted Road, London, SE24 9DA. From 6 pm and 7.30 pm. This will be led by Kim Spencer.

There is no need to book an appointment, simply head to the venue for the drop-in time. 

Foster Care Fortnight is a UK-wide campaign run by The Fostering Network that celebrates both the devotion of foster carers and how it can transform lives. This year’s event, which focuses on the theme of ‘fostering communities’.

The goal of the campaign is to highlight the benefits of fostering and to encourage more families to sign up. The reality is that thousands of new foster families are needed every year, with the greatest need being for foster carers for older children, sibling groups, disabled children and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

“The theme of the fortnight is really important and our drop-in sessions will help to show people that by becoming carers they can help to keep children in their own communities, with their network of friends and schools,” Ruzivo added.

“Too many children right now are having to move out of their communities, away from their friends, because there are not enough foster carers. So, we want to foster communities and show people that they can make a real, positive and lasting difference to a child’s life.”

Banya has been working with foster carers since 1996. Since that time, the agency has worked with 7,000 children. It currently has 140 children placed with 118 carers. The agency currently needs more foster carers in London, the Northwest, Hampshire, the Midlands, Yorkshire and East England.

Fostering a child is important for many reasons. The Fostering Network, provides the following examples:

1. Transform a child's life – the love, support and stability foster carers provide to just one child has the power to transform many lives for the better
2. Transform your life –  you’ll explore new skills, experiences and opportunities as you learn with and from each other 
3. Help children stay connected to the people and places that matter to them – care is provided in the child’s local community
4. Keep children connected with their culture and ethnicity - foster carers reflect and celebrate shared culture, and also learn about and appreciate different cultures and customs
5. Be part of a wider community – it opens doors to peer support groups, ongoing training and development programmes, and a supportive community of other carers, social workers, and professionals. 
    

To find out more about Banya, visit: https://www.banya.co.uk