Fostering fortnight scores lots of hits

Published Tuesday 22 May 2018 at 11:41

Thousands of people have watched a video featuring Blackburn Rovers star Elliott Bennett to promote fostering.

The video was posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as part of Foster Care Fortnight, the UK’s largest foster care awareness raising campaign which runs until May 27.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is supporting the campaign and teamed up with the newly-promoted Championship side to create the video.

It has been seen by more around 4,000 people and midfielder Elliot says in the video:

If you are thinking about becoming a foster parent, I would strongly urge you to do it. You won’t regret it.

If you do it ten times and you change one person’s life, it’s worth it.

Foster Care Fortnight is celebrating the commitment, passion and dedication of foster carers.

But the fortnight is also aiming to recruit more much-needed foster carers to provide loving homes for vulnerable children.

At least 7,000 new foster families are needed in the UK in next 12 months alone to care for a range of children. The greatest need is for foster carers for older children, siblings and those with disabilities.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Lets Foster team is supporting Foster Care Fortnight on social media. There was also a fostering information stall Blackburn Cathedral on May 21 while carers and looked after children are featuring on local radio station 2BR.

Councillor Maureen Basteson, Executive Member for Children’s Services, will round off Fostering Fortnight by being stuck to a wall! She is taking on the Duct Tape Challenge – the latest social media craze – along with Blackburn with Darwen Youth MP Elle Walsh.

People can donate £2 per strip of duct tape which will be used to fix them to a wall at Duke Street Children’s Services offices at 1pm on Friday, May 25.

As well as raising awareness of fostering, the challenge is raising money for the Lower Darwen-based charity Secret Santa which provides Christmas presents for the borough’s underprivileged children.

People who have been inspired by Fostering Fortnight can also find out more at an information event at Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre from 5.30pm to 7pm on June 14.

Councillor Bateson said:

Our foster carers work incredibly hard to make a real difference to children’s lives by providing a loving and stable environment.

Fostering Fortnight is a chance to shine the spotlight on what they do and to thank them.

But we need more carers and the fostering information evening is an ideal opportunity for people to find out more about the different types of fostering. They can also learn about the practicalities of fostering and speak to people involved in the fostering process.

To find out more about fostering, visit our website or find us on Twitter: @bwdletsfoster or Facebook: Facebook.com/letsfoster

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