Hartlepool agency says new foster parents are needed more than ever as it backs national campaign

Changing Futures North East, based on the Headland, launched Hartlepool’s first not-for-profit independent fostering agency last September, and is supporting the Foster Care Fortnight Campaign.

Running from May 10 to 23, this year’s theme is #WhyWeCare and aims to raise the profile of fostering and show how foster care transforms lives.

Changing Futures say there are lots of people out there that might be interested in fostering but are not sure how to go about it, and want to change that.

And latest government figures show there has been another rise in the number of children becoming Looked After and more foster parents are needed than ever coming out of the pandemic, including in Hartlepool.

Changing Futures fostering manager Sarah Richardson said: "There are so many inspirational people who foster or support foster parents and here at Changing Futures Fostering we want to ensure that the people of Hartlepool and the Tees Valley are supported as best as possible to make the decision to foster or transfer to a fostering agency that can openly share why we care.”

Since its launch last year, Changing Futures Fostering has approved foster parents with more undergoing training as part of their assessments.

It has continued to accept enquires throughout the whole of the pandemic, delivering foster parent training sessions, online fostering panels and placing children in safe and stable homes.

A Zoom information session for people interested in fostering will be held on Monday, May 24, at 7.15pm.

To book or for more information call (01429) 363127.

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