In Bedford Borough, our Foster Carers and the difference they make for children, young people and families, are being celebrated in May as part of Foster Care Fortnight.
Every year The Fostering Network leads the campaign to raise the profile of fostering and show how foster care transforms lives.
This year, Foster Care Fortnight will run from Monday 12 May to Sunday 25 May.
This year’s theme is The Power of Relationships - because at the heart of every fostering journey are the connections that make all the difference.
For Bedford Borough Council, it is our opportunity to celebrate the impact of the relationships our fostering families have with children, young people and their families – whether they care for them for days or years. So many of our young people and their families keep in touch with their foster carers long after the children have grown and become adults. They share special milestones and achievements, and even become unofficial grandparents to the children they have cared for.
At Bedford, we recognise that meaningful relationships are central to helping children, young people and families reach their full potential and work as a team around each child.
Equally importantly, these meaningful relationships extend throughout the Council. The Mayor, speaker, councillors, senior managers and teams across the Council collaborate to create family events and awards ceremonies, such as an Easter fun day at Woodland Manor Hotel in Clapham, picnics and our annual Foster Carers Awards Ceremony.
Bedford Borough works hard to ensure our Foster Carers receive recognition and support for the care they offer. There are a host of benefits for families who foster through the Council, such as free gym and swim access at Robinson Pools & Fitness, Kempston Pool, John Bunyan Sports & Fitness and Bedford International Athletic Stadium as well as other benefits including discounts through the Blue Light Card program.
In March, Bedford Borough launched its first Mockingbird Constellation, a groundbreaking approach to fostering that enhances support for carers and children by replicating the structure of an extended family. Again, recognising the power of relationships.
Councillor Jane Walker, Portfolio Holder for Valuing Families: Children’s Services, said; “It’s always an honour when I get to meet our foster families…Their commitment doesn’t just benefit the children, but all our community. Thank you to all of them.”
Foster Care fortnight is also a great time to encourage those who are thinking about fostering to get in touch and even begin their fostering journey. We would love to talk to you.
To find out more, phone 0330 024 1177 or click onto our link Bedford Borough Council - Foster East.