Five North East Lincolnshire Council workers are blazing a trail as the first members of a new Fostering Friends scheme, designed to encourage more people to explore the rewarding role of fostering.
The pioneering initiative welcomed its first group of Friends at an induction event this week, where they learned more about the life-changing impact fostering can have on local children and young people.
During the induction, experienced foster carer Bev Sweeting shared a heartfelt and honest account of her eight years as a foster carer, speaking about both the challenges and rewards of opening her home to children who need support.
Service Director Paul Cowling also addressed the group, highlighting the vital role foster carers play across North East Lincolnshire and how council employees can help strengthen recruitment efforts by becoming advocates for fostering within their workplaces, communities and social circles.
The Fostering Friends scheme aims to build a network of enthusiastic council employees who will champion fostering and help spread awareness of the urgent need for more local foster carers.
Their role can be as simple as sharing social media posts, attending events, speaking to friends and family about fostering, supporting coffee mornings, or helping to build links with local businesses and community groups.
The launch comes as North East Lincolnshire continues its efforts to recruit more foster carers so more local children can remain close to their schools, friends, families and support networks.
Currently, 132 children and young people from North East Lincolnshire who are in care are living outside of the borough. With more local foster carers, many of those children could remain much closer to home.
Paul Cowling, added:
“Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up surrounded by the people, places and communities that matter most to them.
“We have made fantastic progress in recruiting and retaining foster carers over recent years, but the need remains significant. That’s why our Fostering Friends scheme is so important.
“Our council colleagues are passionate about making a difference and this scheme gives them the opportunity to play an active role in helping us find more foster carers for local children.
“Whether it’s sharing a social media post, volunteering at an event or simply starting conversations about fostering, every action helps us reach more people and ultimately change more lives.”
The scheme forms part of the council’s wider commitment as a Corporate Parent to children and young people in care.
The first Fostering Friends are:
- Helen Gelder, Head of ICT and Digital
- Louisa Hewett, Environmental Protection Officer
- Gemma Winn, Workstream Lead
- Jacqui Wells, Housing Strategy Lead
- Nicola Barry, ICT Technician
Fostering Friends receive a short induction programme to help them understand the fostering journey, hear directly from foster carers and care-experienced young people, and explore how their own skills and interests can support awareness and recruitment activities.
Importantly, the initiative is supported through the council’s volunteering scheme, allowing employees reasonable time to undertake ambassador activities alongside their day-to-day roles, with agreement from their managers.
Helen Gelder, Head of ICT and Digital and one of the first Fostering Friends ambassadors, said:
“The induction really brought home the difference foster carers make to children’s lives every single day.
“Hearing Bev speak about her experiences was incredibly powerful. I’m proud to be one of the council’s first Fostering Friends and I’m looking forward to helping raise awareness of fostering and encouraging more people to find out what’s involved.”
North East Lincolnshire Council is now encouraging other colleagues with enthusiasm, passion and a desire to make a difference to consider joining the growing network of Fostering Friends.
No specialist knowledge is required, just a willingness to help promote fostering and support the council’s mission to ensure more children can grow up in loving, stable homes close to where they belong.
Those interested in becoming a Fostering Friend should discuss the opportunity with their line manager before expressing their interest to michelle.lalor@nelincs.gov.uk
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