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Instead of writing a blog about what I've been up to, I wanted to talk about something more important, something less trivial and, seeing as though it's Fostering & Adoption Week for Barnardo's, I felt that this is what we should all take a minute to remember.
I was honoured to have been asked to become an ambassador last year for Barnardo's. Children can be in the most vulnerable and disadvantaged places there can possibly be. Children are fragile and through no fault of their own be in situations that are heartbreaking. Barnardo's is the UK's leading children's charity, with over 100 years of experience in placing children with families. They have always provided me with the information that I needed to understand the work they do. And I've learned a lot already.
When people think about children in care they generally think of babies and toddlers. But what many of us forget is that children can be in care up to the age of 18. And what many people also may not know is that there is a real shortage of carers for older children. This is why Barnardo's are currently encouraging people to come forward to foster children - particularly children over the age of 10. It's important that the needs of older children are met. Older children can have different experiences to younger ones - they are less likely to be adopted, more likely to be in care for shorter periods of time and be in and out of care a number of times. For example, nearly half of 10-15-year-olds leave care within eight weeks and two-thirds are looked after for less than six months.
There's a worrying shortage of foster families across the UK at the moment. We desperately need to find nearly 9,000 new foster families over the next 12 months. So I hope that anyone reading this who would like to do something really worthwhile this year will consider fostering.
Barnardo's will tell you exactly what's involved, how to prepare your home and family, and provide tailored support and training for those who go on to become foster carers.
Every child needs a home, someone who understands them and, like every other child in this country, they need someone to look after them. I often leave my Barnardo's visits shaking my head because no young person should have to deal with what these kids deal with. It breaks my heart when I hear their stories. If for even a second when reading this you've thought about it then please get in touch.
The number to call if you think you might make a good foster parent and just want to find out more is 08000 277 280 or you can go to the Barnardo's website which gives you practical information like the fact that you need a spare room to foster a child.
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If you protest and actually do what is best for the children---you are deregistered.
To be a good foster carer in the eyes of the authority, you must be able to keep quiet and watch familes torn apart by rather warped individuals who really don't have a clue about real life.
They do not consider the needs of the children at all, so long as they can accomodate them wherever. This often leads to major complications with the placement and ultimately the break-down of the whole arrangement often leading to the deregistration of the carer.
Foster carers are basically being used to take the blame if anything goes wrong despite the fact that the social workers know there will likely be problems.
It is a disgrace and i wouldn't recommend fostering now to anyone unless they want to have their lives utterly devastated by the social work. It is quite incredible how they can turn on people who they previously were singing their praises.
I think everyone should know that whatever a social worker says---treat it with a planet sized portion of salt because they rarely will provide the truth.
Remember--whenever you read the reqquirements that you need to be a foster carer, it always states 'must be able to work as part of a team.' The real meaning of this is that they can dispose of you very quickly and use this line whenever you begin to uncover their lies and deception. Just think everyone who might consider should know this fact.
Children if loved are rarely a problem, it is shamefull that as we have supposedly progressed, and yet more and more children are assessed as being in need of outside care. Why are the parents of these children not assessed and helped before it all becomes a bigger problem,and if possible helped to keep their children from becoming in need of being taken away?
As usual in this country we shut the stable door after the horse has bolted, and my heart aches for these families who end up needy of outside help and prevention that eductaion, society, and lack of hope leads them to.
THERE IS MUCH RED TAPE PUTTING BARRIERS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE LIKE US.
OUR MAIN OBSTACLE IS THAT WE DONT HAVE A SPARE BEDROOM.
IN REAL LIFE CHILDREN IN SOME 'FAMILIES; HAVE TO SHARE BEDROOMS, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT ITS NOT A SUITABLE FAMILY.