The Family Placement Service is highlighting the importance of foster care in the Bailiwick of Guernsey to encourage the community to consider opening their homes to provide care and stability to children and young people in need.
Fostering offers children and young people a home when they are unable to live with their birth family, and more foster carers are needed in Guernsey to ensure every child can be matched with the right home for their individual needs.
Foster carers make a significant difference to the lives of fostered children and young people, helping them to flourish and changing their future. Not only does fostering vastly benefit the children and young people, but it is also a life changing experience for the foster carers and their families.
For anyone considering becoming a foster carer, the Family Placement Service will be holding another drop-in session at Beau Sejour to provide information on 26 January, from 3pm until 6:30pm.
Sometimes children only stay with a foster family for a few days or under a short break arrangement, such as one weekend every month, while others will live with their foster family full time for their entire childhood and beyond.
Each child’s circumstances and needs are different, but every child has the right to have their needs met within their own community, together with their siblings if they have any.
Cath Black, Team Manager said: “Fostering in Guernsey is a way to make a real difference for children who need stability and care. You don’t need to be perfect – just patient, understanding, and willing and able to provide a safe home. Full training and ongoing support are provided every step of the way, so you’ll never be alone on the journey. There are many different ways that you can help to support vulnerable children and young people in our community. If you’ve ever considered fostering, now is the time to find out more. You can attend a drop-in session or get in touch with us directly.”
One of our foster carers said: “Being a foster carer holds the possibility for the most rewarding, joyous experience of a lifetime. You really can make a difference.”
The Family Placement Service would also like to hear from anyone interested in the Supported Lodgings scheme, which supports young people who are ready to leave care but may not be ready to live independently.
If you are interested in fostering, or any of our other services, and think you could offer the support, stability and care to help change a child’s future, please email the team at familyplacementservice@gov.gg, phone 01481 223182, or visit guernseyfostercare.com to find out more.
The Family Placement Service can also come to your company/organisation to speak to employees about fostering and the Fostering Friendly Employment Scheme.