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Open your heart and home plea by fostering service
CARING members of Camden’s Irish community are being asked to open their
hearts and homes to unfortunate youngsters who desperately need a place
to live.
The borough’s fostering service is actively looking for people of
Irish descent living in the area, or in neighbouring boroughs, who can
take in one of the many Irish children they deal with.
These young people can no longer live with their parents, often due to
illness, neglect, abuse, and could benefit greatly by living with a similar
culture.
Supervising social worker in Camden’s fostering team Sabrina Haider
said: “In Camden there are a lot of Irish children and children
of Irish descent who are in need of a caring and loving home which represents
their own identity and heritage.
“We try hard to place children of all ethnic communities somewhere
which reflects their background — that way they can keep their cultural,
religious and ethnic links.”
The team launches a series of open day events next week, advising about
the service and fostering options.
They particularly hope that Irish adults will attend as their numbers
have flagged in past years.
Ms Haider said: “We used to have a group of Irish carers but over
the years that number has lessened and there is now definitely a need
to get more people involved from that community.”
She added: “There are various fostering roles, but short term and
long term foster care are the main ones.
“Long term however is a more permanent basis and that is where we
really aim to match the child with a family that shares its culture, religion
and ethnicity.
“It is a big thing for people to take part in but it can be very
rewarding.”
Anne is currently a foster carer in Camden.
She said: “My experience in fostering has been an amazing journey
for myself and the three children that have been in my care.
“We have laughed, loved and cried together and gone forward in a
very positive way.”
The Fostering Team’s next open day will be held at Camden Town Hall
on Thursday, April 3 from 5.30-7pm.
For further information email fosteringteam@ camden.gov.uk or call 08000
281436.
Fostering facts…
- You don’t need to be in a relationship to foster.
- You can be gay, lesbian or straight.
- You don’t need to own your own home.
- You must have a spare room for the child or young person to stay in
unless you foster a baby younger than two — who would have a cot
in your room. |
