With 440 children in care in Cornwall, with many of these older children and some in sibling groups, Cornwall Council more foster families are urgently needed. 

The authority says that at present there is a specific need for foster carers to care for these children and young people. Many of them need permanent homes, living with foster carers who can offer them stability until adulthood. Foster carers help some of the most vulnerable children and young people by providing guidance, security and love.

Jenny and Gordon have been fostering for over thirty-six years, the majority of which has been here in Cornwall. “The bottom line is we enjoy it” they said.

“We enjoy the challenge, being able to provide a space where children feel safe, secure and loved, without any strings attached”.

The couple only foster teenagers. “They need us the most. We enjoy all ages but with older children you can really see where you are going. There is huge satisfaction in allowing them to just be themselves, to stop and look at their lives without criticism. We help them to discover what is going wrong for them and maybe give them ideas for change or strategies for coping”.

Rebecca Sargent is the council’s service manager for the Fostering Service. ”Not many people realise that we need many different types of foster carers” she said.

“At present, we specifically need foster carers who can look after the same child or young person on a permanent basis. We also need foster carers for older children and sibling groups – both on a short term fostering and permanent.”

Cornwall Council’s Fostering Service offers ongoing support and training for all of its foster carers. Rebecca explains “Our training programme for all foster carers is extensive, covers a range of areas and all new carers get a mentor who is an existing carer.”

“Foster carers have a vital role in giving children in care the best possible start in life” said Andrew Wallis, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

“Our foster carers are doing a great job in making a truly positive difference to the lives of hundreds of children in Cornwall every year but we need more people to come forward “

To find out more about becoming a foster carer, call the Fostering Team on 01872 323 638 or visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/fostering.