If you think there’s room in your heart and your home for a child, we would love to hear from you.
We have a shortage of foster parents in Dorset and are calling on residents to open their homes to vulnerable local children.
Babies, children and teenagers come into foster care for many different reasons, including neglect, abuse and family illness.
What you can give them is a comfortable, safe, and caring environment where they can realise their potential and be part of your family until they are able to return home, be adopted into a new family, move to live with a family member or move out of the foster care system to live independently.
We are looking for foster carers from all sorts of backgrounds who can bring a wide range of life and work experiences. There are very few barriers to taking on a foster child, and you will receive training and support to help you develop the skills to meet the needs of children in your care.
Fru Bird and her husband decided to become foster parents some years ago after being on a family holiday to Romania and visiting orphanages there.
At the time they were living in Bromley, where they fostered two children, one of them they went on to adopt.
After moving to Dorset they are specialising in parent/child placements where they look after both the mother and child and give them a safe place.
She said: “Becoming foster parents is probably the most rewarding decision we’ve ever made. We’ve fostered children for five years before moving to Dorset.
“The biggest reward is seeing the children grow up and reach their potential, giving them a stable, loving family environment.
“We have three children of our own and have also adopted one of our foster children, giving her a permanent home with our family.
“Of course there are challenges along the way, but that’s the same in any family. The support you receive as a foster carer is very good. And the rewards are amazing, knowing you are making a real difference to a child in need.”
Cllr Andrew Parry, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Early Help, said: “Foster carers do an amazing job, making a real difference to children’s lives.
“As a foster carer you’ll receive a financial allowance as well as support. You’ll also have the chance to make a real difference to the life of a young person. What could be more rewarding?”
