Change a child's life in 2013 by fostering (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Change a child's life in 2013 by fostering

10:30am Sunday 6th January 2013 in News By Ian Craig

POTENTIAL foster carers across Gloucestershire are being invited to make a positive start to 2013 by changing a child’s life.

Gloucestershire County Council’s fostering team are calling for people across the county to consider taking in a child or children.

Carers are especially needed for teenagers and sibling groups.

Anyone over the age of 21 and with a spare room in their home can be eligible for fostering and applications are accepted from all sectors of society.

Carers can be married, single, unmarried couples, have their own children, gay or lesbian, retired, homeowners, in rented accommodation or unemployed.

GCC’s fostering team are especially looking for carers with more than one spare room who can help keep brothers and sisters together.

Foster carers are paid a weekly maintenance allowance for each child, with amounts varying from £117 to more than £780 a week depending on the age and needs of the child and the skills a carer can offer.

GCC cabinet member for children and young people’s services Cllr Paul McLain (Con, Charlton Kings) said many foster carers had found themselves without a job and decided they could use their skills to care for a child.

"All children are different and to meet their needs we are looking for a wide variety of people," he said. "Fostering is a challenging role to take on but it can make a real difference, so why not make a new year’s resolution that will change a child’s life."

For more information on GCC’s fostering scheme call 01242 532 654.