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County Council Celebrates Foster Care Fortnight

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Lancashire County Council is holding a number of events throughout the county to celebrate Foster Care Fortnight and recruit new carers who are #ProudToFoster.

Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s biggest foster care awareness raising campaign, delivered by fostering charity The Fostering Network. It will take place this year between Monday 14 May and Sunday 27 May.

County Councillor Susie Charles, Lancashire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, said: “We are pleased to take part in this great campaign which showcases the commitment, passion and dedication of carers who are proud to foster. It also supports fostering services to highlight the need for more carers. We are always looking for new foster carers for the range of children who come into our care each week, with the greatest need being for foster carers for older children, sibling groups and children with additional needs.

“The theme of Foster Care Fortnight this year is ‘foster care transforms lives’, and we know this isn’t just the lives of the children and young people who are fostered, it also has the power to change the lives of foster carers, their families and all those who are involved in fostering.”

You can spread the word about Foster Care Fortnight and get involved with the campaign on social media by sharing a picture or film clip of yourself using the hashtags #ProudToFoster or #ProudToSupportFostering. You’ll find out more about the campaign and how you can help by visiting The Fostering Network website.

As well as the number of events taking place throughout the county, there will also be a Fostering Information Evening at County Hall on Wednesday 23 May at 6pm. There is no need to book, but please arrive early to avoid disappointment. You will have the opportunity to meet experienced social workers and current carers and ask questions.

No formal experience or qualifications are needed to be a foster carer, all you need is an available spare room and a desire to make a difference to a local child’s life.

A package of support is available 24/7 to help foster carers in their role, including local support groups, their own social worker, a dedicated helpline and flexible training.

Some of the community events across the county that are being held during Foster Care Fortnight are:

• 16 May – 10am to 3pm: Chorley Library, Union St, Chorley, PR7 1EB
• 17 May – 9.30am-4pm: Charter Walk Shopping Centre, Market Promenade, Burnley BB11 1AE
• 18 May – 10am to 3pm: Sainsbury’s, Active Way, Burnley, BB11 1BS
• 19 May – 11am to 3pm: Lancaster Pride, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PN
• 21 May – 10am to 4pm: Fishergate Shopping Centre, Fishergate, Preston PR1 8HJ
• 22 May – 10am to 4pm: Freeport, Anchorage Rd, Fleetwood FY7 6AE
• 25 May – 10am to 4pm: St Peter’s Heath Care Centre, 42 Church St, Burnley BB11 2DL
• 25 and 26 May – 10am to 3pm: Tesco Extra, Centenary Way, Burnley, BB11 2HE

County Councillor Charles, added: “Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer is invited to go along to any of our community events and talk to our friendly fostering team in an informal setting at a venue near where you live. If there’s nothing in your area at the moment, please check again as events are added throughout the year.”

Drop-in fostering information evenings will also be held on:

• 17 May – 6pm to 7.30pm Burnley Library, Grimshaw Street, Burnley BB10 2BD
• 22 May – 6pm to 7.30pm Fleetwood Library, North Albert Street, Fleetwood FY7 6AJ.

If you’re unable to come along to an event, you can still call the fostering recruitment team on 0300 123 6723 or visit the website www.lancashire.gov.uk/fostering

More information about The Fostering Network, and this year’s campaign is available at www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/get-involved/foster-care-fortnight/foster-care-fortnight-2018

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