Throughout the next two weeks, Foster Care Matters will be joining others across the UK to thank foster parents for all they do and raise awareness of the life-changing impact fostering can have.

This year’s theme for Foster Care Fortnight, This is Fostering, shines a light on the everyday realities of fostering, raising awareness of the profound impact foster parents have on children’s lives. It celebrates the skills, commitment and love they show, often in incredibly challenging circumstances.

Foster parents play a crucial role in providing safe, stable, and nurturing homes for children and young people – many of whom have faced difficult or traumatic experiences. They support children in their education, physical and emotional wellbeing, and help them rebuild trust and confidence. But we urgently need more individuals, couples and families to think about fostering.

Across the North West, there is currently a shortage of at least 700  foster families leaving too many children without the local homes they need. Without locally based foster carers, children can end up in foster homes far away from everything they know – family, friends, schools and clubs.

Foster Care Matters is a not-for-profit fostering service and part of children’s charity, Adoption Matters. The agency recently celebrated their 2^nd anniversary since launch (pictured below right, Deb Reid from Foster Care Matters).

The service has now grown a foster carer community across the North West and Stoke on Trent and offer therapeutic training and ongoing local support to their foster parents.

Karen Palfreyman (pictured above left), Foster Care Matters Registered Manager, (pictured right) comments:

“Foster parents don’t come in one mould. They represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations. This diversity is one of the greatest strengths of the fostering community, helping children feel safe, supported and able to thrive.

We welcome national initiatives such as Foster Care Fortnight for shining a light on the need for more foster carers. At Foster Care Matters, we continue this work year‑round, actively recruiting within our local communities and always ready to speak with anyone interested in fostering”.

Foster Care Matters fostering parents Pete & Lisa* were approved to foster with the agency in April, they commented:

“We are beyond excited to start our journey. We were both very nervous on the morning of panel, in our heads it was going to be like an interview panel with lots of intrusive questions and grilling.

In reality, it was such a positive experience. We were made to feel so comfortable and at ease. The panel members were all really kind and supportive.

For anyone starting out on their fostering journey, I think we would encourage them to go for it, take that step and become the change, the positive space, the constant that a child needs in their lives”.

If you’re keen to learn more about fostering or ready to take the next step, Foster Care Matters are hosting an online information event on Tuesday 12 May at 6:30pm, if you can’t make it don’t worry, just get in touch with the team on 0300 123 1061 or download our fostering guide here. 

*Names changed to protect anonymity