Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, has added her backing to the Fostering Network’s annual ‘Foster Care Fortnight’ campaign.

This year’s campaign, taking place from 1st-14th June, is calling on more people to make a connection with fostering and consider if they’ve got what it takes to become a foster carer.

Some 3,220 children in the North East are currently in foster care, whilst 4,400 people act as foster carers in our region.

But 450 more foster carers are urgently needed in the North East to ensure that the rising number of children coming into care can have the best chance of finding a loving foster family, who can not only meet their needs, but also help them build a positive future.

There is a particular need for foster carers to look after teenagers, children with disabilities, BME children, and sibling groups – with the need for more foster carers meaning that children may end up far from home, be split up from brothers and sisters, or lose touch with family and friends.

Catherine said:

“It’s just impossible to put a value on the work that foster carers do across the North East, whether in providing care on a short-term basis, or long-term placements, for thousands of children.

“They provide a stable, loving home to children and young people – giving them an environment in which they can not only feel secure, but thrive.

“I know Newcastle Council works very hard to support foster carers in the city, with assigned social workers, training and 24-hour advice – and I would therefore urge anyone who thinks they could provide a loving home to children who need one to find out more.”

More information about becoming a foster carer can be found on The Fostering Network’s website, or Newcastle City Council’s ‘Foster a Future’ site.

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