Could you offer a room to a local foster child?

With many young people starting new jobs and moving away from the family home this autumn, now may be perfect time to make use of an empty bedroom in Wokingham Borough by offering a home to a child in need. Currently there are more than 100 children in the borough council’s care.

Wokingham Borough Council is always looking new foster carers for children and young people who want to be fostered close to family in the area. A spare bedroom all year round is one of the key requirements for someone who wants to put themselves forward to possibly be the right family for one of our children.

Becoming a foster carer, means assisting a young person in need by offering a safe, secure and happy family life for the period of time they need.

Find out more

Those wanting to find out more may want to attend Wokingham Fostering’s next drop-in information event at the Oakwood Centre, in Woodley, 17.30-19.45 on Wednesday 25 September.

As well as a chance to make a difference with a young person in need, fostering through the council offers an attractive remuneration package, council tax exemption, excellent training including a specialist therapeutic programme, as well as one-to-one and out-of-hours support.

Fees increase with experience often resulting in the equivalent of a good salary, which could provide a complete change of career. For example, an experienced foster carer at Level 2, who cares for two children all year, could earn more than £25,000 p.a. excluding generous allowances for the child.

The council has almost 50 fostering homes in the Borough already but is always looking for more. The more foster homes the council has available, the more able it will be to help young people in its care find a family home.

“We can change more lives for the better if we have an increased number of foster carers in the Wokingham Borough, as we would be able offer homes to even more children close to their families,” said Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive member for children’s services.

“This time of year often sees a period of change in families’ homes, with children moving away, but it presents a fantastic opportunity to make use of a bedroom, taking advantage of the benefits on offer, while potentially providing a loving home for a young person who needs one.

“If you are excited by this opportunity and have life experience, as well as the time and capacity to potentially look after a child, or have even had a fleeting thought about potentially fostering, talk to our fostering team at one of our events, or give them a call.”

Contact Jackie Ross in the fostering team on (0118) 974 6204, emailfostering@wokingham.gov.uk, visit ‘Wokingham Fostering’ Facebook or go to www.fostering.wokingham.gov.uk