Stephen Morgan MP is calling for more people in Portsmouth to come forward to become foster carers, and to help change local children’s futures.
The call comes at the start of The Fostering Network’s annual Foster Care Fortnight campaign which seeks to raise awareness of the amazing role foster carers play in the lives of thousands of children and young people, and to encourage more people to foster.
In the South East, 7,600 children are living with 6,300 foster families, but there is a need for more foster carers.
This year alone, hundreds of new foster families are needed in Portsmouth to ensure that children coming into care have the best chance of finding a foster family that can meet their specific needs and help them build a positive future.
There is a particular need for foster carers to look after teenagers, disabled children and groups of brothers and sisters.
Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South said:
‘I’m delighted to be supporting Foster Care Fortnight. Foster carers play such a vital role in our society and I am so grateful to all the foster families here in Portsmouth.
However, we still need many more people who think they might have the right skills and experience to consider whether they could become foster carers and change the futures of children and young people who need support at a critical point in their young lives.’
Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network, the UK’s leading fostering charity, said:
‘We are absolutely thrilled that Stephen Morgan MP is supporting this year’s Foster Care Fortnight. We know that foster care can transform children’s lives and recognising the positive impact that foster carers and their families have on children and young people is so important.
‘The theme of this year’s campaign is #changeafuture and it is a really good time to think about fostering and whether you could change a future by becoming a foster carer.
‘If you think you have the qualities needed to provide a stable and nurturing home to children and young people in foster care, then please take the next step today by getting in touch with your local fostering service.’
