Foster carers needed in Penrith and Eden

New foster carers are needed in Penrith and Eden to help transform the lives of vulnerable children. While foster carers are required throughout the whole of Cumbria, Penrith and Eden has been identified as an area where there is a particular need.

So to help try and recruit new carers, Cumbria County Council has organised an information session and publicity campaign that will highlight the importance of fostering and what becoming a foster carer entails.

With there being no such thing as a typical foster carer, the campaign will encourage people from a variety of backgrounds to get involved.

Leaflets are being delivered to all homes in Penrith and Eden during next week (24 September onwards) with shops, doctors and dentists in the area being asked to display posters to support the campaign.

People interested in finding out more about fostering are invited to an information session at the new Community Fire Station in Penrith on 4 October at 6pm. During the session applicants will be shown a short film made by some local foster carers and children who have been in foster care, looking at some of their experiences of fostering. Members of the fostering team will also be on hand to discuss and answer any questions.

Councillor Anne Burns, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet member for children’s social care, said: "Giving children a safe and loving environment where they can develop and grow is just about the most important and worthwhile thing anybody could do and I’d call on people thinking about fostering in the Penrith and Eden area to come along to the information session to find out what it involves.

"It will be a good chance for them to meet members of our fostering team and learn about how they can transform the lives of vulnerable children by becoming foster carers."

For more details contact Cumbria County Council’s fostering team on 0303 333 1216 or visit fosterforcumbria.org