News – Simply Fostering – January – 2015
More Asian Families Needed to Foster in Teeside
A foster carer from Teeside has spoken out about the need for more Asian families to consider becoming foster carers. Rasub Afzal, a father of three, has been fostering for two years and has looked after two children.
According to Rasub, the shortage of Asian foster carers means that the cultural needs of Asian foster children are not being met. He doesn‘t understand why so few Asian families are willing to foster, as it is part of his faith to look after children. He hopes that this will change in the future.
Middlesbrough Council has said that out of 108 foster families, 3 are British Asian, although the demand is currently being met for Asian heritage placements.
Christmas Hampers for Teenagers Leaving Foster Care
Teenagers who are due to be leaving foster care this year have been given Christmas hampers by placement support worker, Norma Wilson. Norma, who works for the Rugby Fostering Team, put together the hampers after realising that teenagers who leave care at 18 don’t always have presents at Christmas time.
Often they don’t have the support of friends and family so Norma gives the hampers to social workers to hand out, to the delight of the recipients. Donations for the hampers are provided by friends, colleagues and neighbours.
As many as 62 hampers were put together this year, containing perfume from Next and vouchers to spend in supermarkets Aldi and Tesco.
The work carried out by Norma has been praised by Councillor Bob Stevens, who is the health spokesman for Warwickshire County Council. He said ‘she provides a wonderful service at Christmas’
Lorraine Pascale, TV Chef, Becomes Fostering Ambassador
Lorraine Pascale will become the first fostering ambassador for the government. She was in foster care herself as a child and has been campaigning for extra support for foster families and children.
She spoke about how personal experience has shown her how important it is to encourage people to consider fostering. Lorraine will ‘champion’ fostering in England, said the Department for Education.
Edward Timpson, the Children’s Minister, said that Lorraine is an inspiration to children in foster care and their parents.
Fostering Network Launch New Sports Project
A new project is due to be launched early this year by the Fostering Network in Wales. The Let’s Go project will encourage foster children into sport which will help to strengthen foster placements and improve health and wellbeing.
The Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust will fund the project, which is for looked after children in Wales aged between 5 and 11. There will be two days of coaching and sporting activities for 72 children which will give them an opportunity to try a range of activities to help with confidence and promote fitness.
Project manager, Maria Boffey, said that the project will help young people and children with their physical and mental health, relieve stress and tension, improve concentration and increase their self esteem.
Simply Fostering – January 2015
