Change a life in 2017: Islanders urged to foster

Saturday 14 January 2017

The New Year always brings in a spate of resolutions, with carb cutting and money management always high priorities.

But now Fostering and Adoption Jersey is asking the public to considering adding changing lives to that list, in a bid to get more foster carers for the most vulnerable children.

They’re appealing for foster carers from all walks of life, whether married, single, mixed or same sex couples, as well as from different cultural and religious backgrounds.

“Foster carers leave a lasting positive impression on lives, and without them young people would have limited opportunities to reach their potential,” Publicity Officer at Fostering and Adoption Margarida Lourenco-Olvier commented.

The idea is to provide a safe and stable family environment for children who are unable to live with their birth families.

2016 saw five new foster families offer a helping hand, providing the department with 48 approved foster carers, who can take on both long and short-term placements.

Now they’re looking to recruit another 10 families due to a steadily increasing demand.

Pauline Graham – a woman who had fostered over 90 children over 24 years – was awarded an MBE in December for her commitment to the cause. When asked about her achievements, she maintained that helping children “get the best out of life” was her greatest reward. 

Emmy Lindsey, Manager of Fostering and Adoption Jersey said “We are very fortunate in Jersey to have many wonderful foster carers, but there is still a real need for more people to come forward. We want to be able to offer the right placement for all children who come into our care.”

A member of the Fostering and Adoption Team will be hosting an information stall at the Jersey Library on Wednesday 18 January between 11am and 2pm to enable interested members of the public to find out more about fostering.

For those who want to learn more, Fostering and Adoption will hosting an information stall at the Jersey Library between 11:00 and 14:00 on Wednesday 18th January.