In Sandwell – and across the UK – hundreds of foster carers open their homes to provide love, stability and care to children and young people in need of safety, stability and love. But many more foster carers are urgently needed to ensure every child can be matched with the right home for their individual needs.
That’s why, from this week until 24 May, Sandwell Children’s Trust is backing the nationwide Foster Care Fortnight campaign, as Emma Taylor, Chief Executive of Sandwell Children’s Trust, explains:
“Foster Care Fortnight is really important because it shines a light on the incredible impact of foster carers and encourages more people to consider joining Sandwell’s biggest family. It’s also a chance to say a big thank you to all foster carers for their remarkable dedication to children and young people in Sandwell.
“Our fostering team will be out and about in Sandwell during Foster Care Fortnight, but the need for good people to step forward and become foster carers doesn’t end when the campaign finishes. We need foster carers for Sandwell’s most vulnerable children and young people at all times of the year.
“So, if you’re thinking about fostering – come and talk to us.”
Sally Giles, Executive Director of Children and Education Services for Sandwell Council, added: “We are pleased that children’s services in the borough are now recognised as ‘Good’ – and we know how critical it is to find the next generation of foster carers to support our children and young people now and for the future.
“Foster Care Fortnight has a really important message – and our campaign to recruit foster carers to join Sandwell’s biggest family will continue week in, week out as we need safe, stable, loving homes all year round.”
Throughout Foster Care Fortnight, voices from across the fostering community will be sharing stories that raise awareness of their daily experiences. For foster carers, this could be the small moments that matter – helping a child build trust, getting them ready for a new school or adjusting their approach each time a child arrives.
The aim is to show what fostering really involves – the skill, judgement and resilience it takes to provide safe, consistent care for children. By sharing these stories, we can raise awareness of what it truly takes to be a foster carer, and why it needs to be properly valued and supported.
Sarah Thomas, Chief Executive of The Fostering Network, said: “The UK is in urgent need of more foster carers. Each year, we are losing more carers than we are gaining, and that simply isn’t sustainable. This Foster Care Fortnight, we will be encouraging people to consider fostering while saying a big thank you to our existing foster carers for everything they do.
“Thank you to everyone who is helping us raise awareness of fostering during Foster Care Fortnight.”
How can you get involved?
You don’t need to be a foster carer to support Foster Care Fortnight, just follow Foster Sandwell on social media, and help spread the word by liking and sharing their posts. The more people who hear about the life-changing impact of fostering, the greater the chance of finding more homes for the children and young people who need them.
Thinking about becoming a foster carer?
Foster carers are urgently needed to provide safe, nurturing homes – whether for a night, a few months, or several years. By fostering, you can make a lasting difference in a young person’s life. To find out more about Foster Care Fortnight and how to become a foster carer visit the Foster Care Sandwell website or call 0800 358 0899.
During Foster Care Fortnight we will be out and about across Sandwell giving people opportunities to have an informal chat with our fostering team and some of our foster carers:
Thursday 14 May | 12 midday to 5pm – Information Stand
Asda, Wednesbury Oak Road, Tipton DY4 0BP
Friday 15 May | 9.30am to 1pm – Drop‑In Session
Stone Cross Library, Beverley Road, West Bromwich B71 2LH
Friday 15 May | 11am to 5pm – Pop‑up Stand
Morrisons, 239 Holyhead Road, Wednesbury WS10 7BD
Sunday 17 May | 10.30am to 12 midday – Virtual Information Event
MS Teams (via Eventbrite)
Monday 18 May | 10am to 2pm – Information Stand
Midland Metro University Hospital, Grove Lane, Smethwick B66 2QT
Wednesday 20 May | 11am to 4pm – Information Stand
Birchley Island Retail Park by B&M, Oldbury B69 4RJ
Thursday 21 May | 6.30pm – Information Event
Lightwoods House, Adkins Lane, Smethwick B67 5DP
Friday 22 May | 10am to 2pm – Weekly Drop‑In (Foster Care Fortnight)
Rowley Regis Family Hub, Dudley Road, Rowley Regis B65 8JY