Coventry is this week paying tribute and saying thank-you to the children of foster families.
The Council is recognising the valuable contribution that foster siblings make to welcoming children in care into their homes and lives and helping to give them a fresh start in a loving family.
A celebration for children of special guardians, kinship carers and foster carers, Children of Foster Carers’ Week is an annual UK-wide campaign run by The Fostering Network, held from 12–18 October, celebrating the vital contribution that foster carers’ own children make to fostering.
The Council is this week treating youngsters across the city to an evening of bowling, pool and lots of fun! The event is the Council’s way of recognising and celebrating the important contribution children make when their family fosters and saying a huge thank you for everything they do.
This annual week highlights the invaluable support and friendship young children in foster families give to those children who come to share their homes – whether for a few hours, or many years.
Sometimes that bond can lead to a lifetime of caring – as with one foster carer Alan.
Alan and his wife Lezah – along with their four children - have now been fostering for two years, but his involvement in caring for others started much longer ago.
Alan said: “There wasn’t a time growing up that I didn't have a child living with my mum. I grew up fostering, so, it's kind of the natural thing to do - and it's nice to give every child the upbringing and the love that they all deserve.”
Cllr Mal Mutton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Coventry City Council, said: “In Coventry, we are fortunate to have many dedicated foster families who play such a valuable role in making a real difference to young people’s lives, and that includes the children and young people in the home.
“Their contribution can sometimes be overlooked, but it is so crucial in making a foster child feel welcome, loved and part of a family. They share their toys, their rooms, their homes and their families, and they give another child the friendship they need as they start a new and difficult stage in their young lives.
“I know from talking to people like Alan, they get a lot from the fostering experience as well. There are times when it cannot be easy, but fostering is built from everyday life, the ordinary things and shared moments, and that is what our amazing fostering family children bring.
“This week we wanted to highlight the role they play in making Coventry a caring child-friendly city that works hard to give every child the best start in life and say a heartfelt ‘thank-you’ to them all.”
There is a need for more foster carers in the city, and the Council is actively looking for people who can open their home to a child. From first conversations to training and ongoing support, including financial, the Council can help at every step of the journey.
To find out more about fostering, visit the What is fostering? webpage.
Coventry City Council is also hosting a free fostering workshop next month – at the Council House from 11am-1pm on Saturday 14 November. Register your interest here: https://www.coventryrocks.co.uk/things-to-do/fostering-workshop
It is for anyone who has ever thought about fostering and wants to find out more. You might already help others through parenting, caring for family members, volunteering or simply being there for friends when they need support.
At the workshop, you can meet foster carers and fostering professionals, ask questions and learn what support is available. There is no obligation to apply. It is simply a chance to find out whether fostering could be right for you, your family and your lifestyle.
Sometimes the everyday things we do, like listening, encouraging and caring, can make a real difference to a child's life, so just drop in to have a chat and find out more.