Working with us might be be just what you need

Throughout Somerset, the number of children entering foster care has increased over the last few years and this is still increasing even now, but there are not enough foster carers around to look after everyone who is entering the system.

Many people believe that they cannot foster children either because of the fact that they are single, part of the LGBTQ+ community or the fact that they do not have children of their own. This is specifically not the case. For you to be able to foster in Somerset and even anywhere for that matter, you need to be able to fulfil three main requirements. You will need to be over the age of 21 and most importantly have a spare room for a child to live in within your room, along with having the right to live and work in the United Kingdom (UK). Other than this, anyone can foster.

The county of Somerset is a delightful and lovely place to live in with the county bordering Gloucestershire and Bristol with Wiltshire being to the east of the county and Dorset in the Southwest. The County is one of the most beautiful places to live, but it also has some interesting history and culture. Did you know that the legend of King Arthur and the Lake of Avalon is associated with Glastonbury tor is a hill located in Glastonbury? Did you also know that the county was used as a main base for troops who were preparing for the landings during D-Day? Somerset is also known for many local stations and activities for children and young adults such as the TV programmes BBC West and ITV West Country, to Radio Stations known as Radio Summerset and Heart West.

As a child who is entering the fostering system, the one thing that has always been said is that they would like to stay close to their family town and keep their friendships as this means something to them. This is why we at Fostering UK are expanding our fostering service throughout Somerset to provide more placements for children so that they can stay close and within their hometowns and keep their friendships.

Somerset needs more foster carers to help foster their children but what you need to think about is how a foster child feels and what they want. A foster child who enters the system a lot of the time can feel alone and afraid, so they just want someone to be able to look after them and make sure that nothing bad is going to happen to them.  What is more important is to think about how you would like to be treated when you were a child. A lot of the time it is exactly the same.

So, if you are someone who can provide a safe environment but also give a child a new, valued and supported life then Somerset is looking for you, and you should start registering to become a foster carer now.  We want to spread the word across the city of Bristol so that everyone knows that they are welcome in our family here at Fostering UK.

If you are wanting to become a foster carer and help the children in Bristol, why not get in touch with us and we can support you in your journey