Stockport Council fostering team joins UK wide recruitment campaign

Stockport Council has joined up along with four other Greater Manchester councils and a further 20 nationally to launch an online Christmas recruitment campaign to meet the urgent need for foster carers in the region.

Ofsted’s annual Fostering in England statistics brings to light the pressures currently facing foster care where the numbers of carers are continuing to decline, despite record numbers of children and young people in need of support. The number of applications received from prospective fostering households in 2022 to 2023 was the lowest number in several years and 18% lower than 2018 to 2019.

To bring attention to the urgent need and to celebrate the borough’s foster carers and care leavers, Stockport Council is among local authorities nationwide to have created the ‘Opening Doors to Fostering’ campaign. The online advent-style campaign highlights how foster carers celebrate the festive season to make it extra-special for the children and young people they care for.

During December the Council’s fostering service has been shining the spotlight on foster carers and children in care and how they celebrate the festive period in their homes and communities. The Opening Doors campaign runs throughout December and is sharing  with local communities why people should consider fostering with their local council, and the impact it can make to children and young people who are in need of a safe and secured place to live.

Cllr Wendy Meikle, Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education said:

“This time of the year can be an especially difficult time for looked after children who are distant from the people and places they know.

“The campaign will showcase the positive impact carers can make in children’s lives, creating memories which can be cherished forever. We hope the campaign will encourage more people to put themselves forward for this rewarding role.”

The full Opening Doors to Fostering Campaign is available to view on Stockport Council’s fostering Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) pages.

If you feel you could foster in 2024, then please visit the council’s website or attend one of its monthly fostering information sessions.  The next fostering information session is taking place on Wednesday 10 January at Stockport Town Hall starting at 6pm.