East Antrim residents urged to consider being foster carers

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is supporting Foster Care Fortnight, The Fostering Network’s annual campaign to raise awareness of the transformational power of fostering and to celebrate the fostering community.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Foster Care Fortnight runs from May 10 to May 23. It aims to help and encourage the wider society to understand and value fostering and the positive difference it can make to young people’s lives.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Cllr, Peter Johnston said: “Thousands of new foster families are needed every year to care for children, with the greatest need being for older children, sibling groups and children with additional needs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Currently, around 2,780 children and young people are living in foster care and with less people coming forward to offer homes, there has never been a greater need for foster carers. You really could make a difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people.”

Cllr Beth Adger MBE with Mayor Cllr, Peter Johnston.Cllr Beth Adger MBE with Mayor Cllr, Peter Johnston.
Cllr Beth Adger MBE with Mayor Cllr, Peter Johnston.

Mid and East Antrim Cllr Beth Adger MBE shared her personal story at last week’s meeting of full council. She put forward a Notice of Motion on the issue which was unanimously supported by Elected Members.

She said afterwards: “Foster carers in Northern Ireland do an incredible job ensuring children are nurtured, loved and protected.

“As a foster carer myself for over 22 years and having fostered 47 children during this time, I can hand on my heart say it is the most rewarding job.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“From newborn to 14 years of age, the children that entered our home gave us so much love and it really was a pleasure to provide each child with a loving and safe environment during their time of need.

“We hope that the increased awareness of Foster Care Fortnight will build support for fostering, challenge stigma surrounding children in foster care and encourage more people to come forward to foster. There is a good support network out there for foster carers to avail of, so you are not alone in this role.”

For more information on adoption or foster care, contact HSC Northern Ireland Adoption and Foster Care on 0800 0720 137 or visit www.adoptionandfostercare.hscn.net

----

Click here to read Newtownabbey man details experiences as annual Foster Care Fortnight launched

--

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.
Please consider purchasing a copy of the paper. You can also support trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription of the News Letter.