Fun photos for Fostering Fortnight

The launch of Blackburn with Darwen’s Foster Care Fortnight saw shoppers sharing photos to raise awareness.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Let’s Foster service visited The Mall with a photo booth and invited parents and children of all ages to come and get their photographs taken together – making use of an assortment of fun dressing up props.

Shoppers popped into the photo booth to take selfies and give their support to Foster Care Fortnight, which runs until June 14. Pictures taken in the booth have been automatically uploaded to the Let’s Foster Facebook page, where people will be able to like or share and download their own photographs.

Also supporting the event were the Mayor and Mayoress of Blackburn, Cllr Faryad Hussain and Parveen Begum, and Councillor Maureen Bateson, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Children’s Services.

The photo booth will be visiting Victoria Square in The Mall again between noon and 2pm on Wednesday, June 3 and Friday, June 5, between 12pm and 2pm. Members of the Council’s fostering team will be on hand to speak to shoppers and answer their questions about fostering.

Next week, the booth will be taken out to a range of venues including Blackburn College on Wednesday, June 10 and Friday, June 12 between 12pm and 2pm College.

Councillor Maureen Bateson said:

This was a fantastic launch and shoppers really came out in support of Foster Care Fortnight. The photo booth was a lot of fun and people of all ages really got into the spirit of it.

 I hope this helps to raise awareness of fostering – we need more local people to consider fostering and come forward to offer a safe and stable home for Blackburn with Darwen children.”

 The Council needs to recruit new foster carers to look after vulnerable children and young people, particularly older children and brothers and sisters who need to be looked after together.

There are many different types of fostering, from short-term placements and short breaks for families with children with disabilities to providing a long-term or even permanent home.

Fostering is a rewarding, paid and professional role that comes with extensive training and on-going support. Foster carers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and can be considered regardless of gender, age, marital or job status.

Visit the website, www.letsfoster.co.uk, for more information.