A NEW campaign has been launched to encourage more potential foster carers to come forward in 2022, especially those who can offer long term homes to older children and sibling groups.

The pandemic, along with more children coming into care each month, means there is an urgent demand for foster carers for children and young people of all ages across the county.

In Cumbria there is a particular demand for more carers for slightly older children and siblings who need permanent or long-term placements. One of the most rewarding things about being a long term foster carer is that it allows you to have a huge and long lasting impact on the life of a child, which will help them flourish.

Alex Finnie, from Barrow, has been a long term foster carer since 2009. She said: “Every child has a right to be loved and nurtured. I came into fostering as a change of job, as I used to work in mental health, and I can honestly say it is the best thing I’ve ever done.

“Long term fostering gives me the opportunity to work with the child who’s moved into my home and have a real impact on their life. And it gives the child a wonderful stability to know they won’t be moved on or have to go anywhere else.

“I asked my foster child what is good about long term foster care and she said ‘it’s great because I know I don’t have to move on in a couple of years or have to worry about moving. I know when I come in the front door, I’m home’. That’s basically what long term means; they’re home.

“The reward for me is that you get to know these young people and you lose your heart to them and they become part of your family. It is just a wonderful thing to do and I would recommend long term fostering over any other type of fostering.”

Cllr Anne Burns, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “We need long term foster carers who can provide love, security and commitment to a vulnerable child and support them into adulthood. This is ‘fostering without having to say goodbye’ to the child, as they remain in your family. I would encourage anyone curious about fostering, to come forward and find out how they can make a difference.”

For further information visit: cumbria.gov.uk/fostering