Rutland County Council is using this year's national Foster Care Fortnight to dispel some of the common misconceptions that discourage people from pursuing an interest in fostering. 

Foster Care Fortnight is the UK's biggest foster care awareness-raising campaign, run by national charity The Fostering Network. Established in 1997, the campaign helps local fostering services to highlight the need for more foster carers.

Rutland currently has 10 fostering households offering care and support to around 25 children and young people. Nationwide, almost 40,000 children in England are placed with foster carers. Many of these children will go back to their families after a while. In some cases, this may take days or weeks. Sometimes, it can take much longer. 

Laila Oliver, Fostering and Adoption Team Manager at Rutland County Council, said: "We're always looking for new foster carers who can help us provide a safe, caring environment for children and young people who aren't able to live with their families. There are children right here in Rutland who need care and support. However, we know some people with an interest in fostering don't come forward because of common myths about who can be a foster carer and what it involves.

"Lots of people think you need to be in a couple and live in a big house if you want to be a foster carer. The picture many people have in their heads when they think about fostering is an older couple who've looked after countless children over 10, 20 or even 30 years. In truth, most adults over the age of 21 can be a foster carer.

"You can be single, married, divorced or living with a partner. You can be in a same sex relationship, live in rented accommodation or have children already. Likewise, we don't need all our carers to look after children for years and years at a time. We often need carers who can provide short-term care or emergency care. For example, if a single parent needs to go into hospital for a few days for an operation."

Laila added: "There are so many different types of foster care, and you can have a huge impact on a child's life by giving them the care they need, when they need it. We hope lots of people will get in touch with us during and after Foster Care Fortnight to find out more."

Rutland County Council is seeking foster carers for children aged 0 to 18, and offers its carers professional training, constant guidance and financial support. The Council takes a personalised approach when providing support for both carers and children, recognising that everyone is different. This is made possible thanks to the authority's size and the dedication of its Fostering Team.

Local foster carers work alongside a professional network supporting the children and young people they are looking after, helping them to achieve the best outcomes possible. The type of foster care provided depends on the needs of children and young people.

For more information about fostering in Rutland, visit the Rutland County Council website. Alternatively, to get in touch with the Rutland Foster Care Team, email [email protected] or call 01572 720 942.

Do you foster or know someone who does? Get in touch and tell us about your experience by emailing [email protected].