Can you give a child a Home for Good?

A YEOVIL foster parent has encouraged others thinking about giving a child a home to attend an information night later this month.

Somerset County Council is backing a national campaign called Home for Good - a church led initiative that aims to encourage one family per church to use their homes for the good of those that need fostering or adopting.

Somerset is holding an information event to promote the Home for Good campaign at which national champion, Paul Woodman, will give a presentation on the difference fostering and adoption makes to so many vulnerable children’s lives.

Paul said: “We are delighted to be working with Somerset County Council to help find a home for good for every child that needs one in the county.

“We are encouraging the hundreds of churches across the county to play their part in offering love, hospitality and kindness to children who have had a difficult start in life.”

Invitations have been sent to all churches in the South Somerset area, and anyone can attend the event being held at Northover Manor in Ilchester from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday, February 6.

Paul will speak at 7.30pm and there will be an opportunity to chat to local foster carers, adopters and the Council’s fostering and adoption team.

Cllr Frances Nicholson, Somerset County Council’s children and families, said: “We need many more foster carers and adopters to look after the rising number of children in care in Somerset.

“I encourage people to think about what they can offer a child in care; a home for a short period, some support or a permanent family.”

Sarah, from Yeovil, has been fostering with her husband and teenage children for 18 months.

She said: “We had thought about fostering and adoption for a while and about two years ago we decided that the time was right – our children were a bit older, we had a spare room and we felt we could offer a child love and stability.

“We had taken a few young people under our wing in the last few years and seen what a difference a bit of support and stability can make to their lives. We felt we could do more and decided to apply to foster.

“I would recommend fostering to anyone who has space, time and love to give to a child.”
Sarah will be at the event on Thursday, February 6, to chat to people about her experiences of fostering.

Drop into the event or go to: www.fosteringinsomerset.org.uk or www.adoptioninsomerset.org.uk or phone 0800 587 9900 for an information pack.

Join fostering and adoption in Somerset on Facebook or follow us on twitter @fostersomerset and @adoptsomerset.

To find out more about the Home for Good campaign visit: www.homeforgood.org.uk

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