A local fostering agency is urging more families to become foster parents once their children leave the family home for university.
With over 200,000 18-year olds from across the UK being offered a university place this year, Fosterplus, which provides fostering services in Paisley is looking for more parents to open up their hearts and homes to welcome children in need of care, support and love.
The latest heart-breaking statistics from Ofsted show that 53,040 children were in care as of 31st March 2018, an increase of just over 1,000 compared to 2017 figures. This staggering number of children is enough to fill Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium.
To support the growing number of young people entering care, it’s currently estimated that over 8,000 families are required to become foster parents.
Fostering is a professional and paid role that welcomes people from all walks of life, but those who have brought up their own children will already have the experience and life skills that are so sought after in foster carers.
Service Manager, Katie Broatch, commented; “As children grow up and move on to new adventures, it’s not rare to see parents going through what’s known as Empty Nesters Syndrome where they can experience feelings of grief and loneliness.”
She continued; “While not a clinical condition, research has shown that it can result in depression and a loss of purpose. Instead of focusing on these negative feelings, we want parents to reflect on their life’s purpose and make them aware of how valuable they could be to a foster child.
“As they enter this new stage in life where children are leaving home, they’ll be in the perfect position to welcome a new child as their home will already be set up accommodatingly. Not only this but as they have cared for their own child, they’ll have built up so much experience and care, making them invaluable to a child in need.”
Fosterplus is an independent fostering agency whose aim as a fostering provider is to ensure that those in their care lead happy, stable, active childhoods – childhoods that provide the foundations for fulfilled and productive adulthoods.
If you would like to find out more about fostering, call the friendly team on 0800 369 8512 or visit https://www.fosterplus.co.uk/.