SOLIHULL Council is on the hunt for foster carers across the borough to help find home for the rising number of children needing a foster home due to the pandemic.
The Council say pressures of Covid including job losses and declining mental health means more families need access to services and lockdowns have meant that vulnerable children have spent more time at home where they may have experienced neglect and abuse.
It also says there has been a fall in people coming forward to become foster carers compared to pre-Covid levels.
In a bid to boost numbers the fostering team is hosting a virtual information event to recruit new foster carers and is inviting those who feel able to offer a Solihull child a safe and loving home the opportunity to find out more.
The meeting will be held on September 28 from 6.30pm via Microsoft Teams.
It is hoped people will be inspired to take the leap into fostering like Michelle did during the first national lockdown.
The Solihull resident became a foster carer last September last year after deciding to transfer the skills she’d built up in her childminding business into providing a home for a vulnerable child.
The 41-year-old said: “I completed my training during the first lockdown, became approved in September and had my first placement in October.
“I knew that there was a rise in children going into care during the pandemic and this confirmed that I’d made the right decision to become a foster carer. I felt pleased to be playing a part in helping those children.
“Even though my first placement began during the challenging times of Covid, I always felt surrounded by support from the fostering team at Solihull Council and my supervising social worker has been wonderful.”
For more or to join the information session email [email protected] for details.
