Become a foster carer in Leeds and change a child’s life forever

Leeds City Council is urgently seeking exceptional people to help change a child’s life forever, by becoming a foster carer.

By fostering for Leeds City Council, new carers would join one of the UK’s largest and most well-established fostering networks, and be offered tailored support from social workers and specialist staff to guide them through both the registration of interest and recruitment process.

Over the past three years Leeds has worked hard to recruit some fantastic carers from many backgrounds and ethnic origins, and now has over 750 foster families as part of the Leeds foster care ‘team’.

Due to high demand, the council is very keen to hear from people who could foster children over the age of 11-years-old, sibling groups and those with additional needs. Before coronavirus, the council had a shortage of foster carers for these particular groups. This shortage is now being felt more than ever as the city and families meet the current challenges of coronavirus. Generally, the number of children’s care proceeding across the UK has been rising as families struggle to cope with a range of issues. Unfortunately this means that the number of children and young people entering foster care is expected to increase.

Those interested in finding out more about fostering can register their interest online by visiting www.foster4leeds.co.uk or by contacting 0113 378 3538 for advice and an information pack. Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer, can be assured that the process of registering an interest or submitting an application are not affected by the current challenges of coronavirus, and will continue to be processed quickly and receive a high level of support.

Councillor Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council’s executive member responsible for children and families said:

“Foster carers do an amazing job and make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people in communities across our city.

“Fostering can be an incredibly rewarding experience and I would like to reassure anyone who is thinking of becoming a foster carer, that on each of your journeys, we will be here to offer you meaningful and specialist support.”

Notes to editors:

Leeds needs foster carers from all walks of life, people who are single, married, divorced, employed, unemployed, with or without children of their own. People from diverse backgrounds and all ethnic origins are needed to help children benefit from living with families who share their own culture, language and religion.

People are needed to provide a wide range of fostering types, including short term support for young children and longer, planned permanent support, as well as respite foster care, and specialist care for disabled children. Leeds City Council provides locally based offices, support groups, training and regular foster friendly events.

Leeds City Council supports Foster Care Fortnight which is the UK’s biggest foster care awareness raising campaign, delivered by The Fostering Network. Established for over 20 years, the campaign showcases the commitment, passion and dedication of foster carers. Foster Care Fortnight 2020 takes place from Monday 11 to Sunday 24 May 2020.

Emma Simmonds.

Leeds City Council communications officer.

Email: emma.simmonds@leeds.gov.uk

Tel: 0113 37 89184.