Under the banner of “Could you fill this space?” the County Council is looking to reach residents who might be able to help a child in care by being the vital loving, caring support they need.
The campaign which launches this week will include radio adverts, banners and posters in local communities, and a special website providing a range of information about the ways people can help “fill a space” in a child's life.
TV celebrity and ice-skating star Jayne Torvill will be providing the voice for the radio adverts. As patron of the East Sussex Foster Care Association Jayne has been a regular supporter of services for children in care in the county.
The campaign images feature a child being held aloft on the shoulders of an adult – supported and loved, smiling and happy – but the adult has been removed from the picture and a cut-out left in place. The challenge to residents is “could you fill this space?”
Residents are being urged to visit www.fillaspace.co.uk to find out more about the campaign and the many different ways they might be able to help. They can also ring a special campaign hotline that has been set up on 01323 464129 to speak to a member of staff about the campaign and the different ways they can help.
We're looking for new foster parents who could look after a child in care either in the short term or for a longer period, as well as potential adoptive parents who could provide a child with a long-term home. But we also need families that could provide a short-term home and help to older children, or carers for children with disabilities.
Our Looked After Children service, which includes our Fostering and Adoption teams have been rated “outstanding” by the Government and so are amongst the best in the business.
Cllr Colin Belsey, the County Council's Lead Member for Children and Families said: “This is an exciting campaign that we hope will have quite a bit of impact in the community. We hope people will hear the radio adverts, see the posters, see the newspaper adverts and read about it in the papers.
“Carers come from all walks of life, and from all backgrounds. The main thing they have in common is the desire to make a difference for a child in need. We need all sorts of carers – short term foster carers, long term foster families, potential adoptive parents, people who can provide supported lodgings for teenagers, people who can provide breaks for disabled young people – and so there's a wide range of different levels of commitment”.
Cllr Belsey said the campaign was taking a different approach to previous recruitment activities. “Previously we've always gone out looking for specific types of carers. This time we're hoping to reach the many people out there who probably would like to help out a child in care but don't know how they might be able to do so.
“We'll be able to have an honest discussion with anyone who contacts us about what options there are, whether it's something that's suitable for them, and what is involved.”
And he stressed that anyone contacting the team would be under absolutely no obligation to get involved. “People should not think that they will be pressured into getting involved. We genuinely just want to speak to people to give them more information. We hope, of course, it will lead to more carers, but some may decide it's not for them.”
Cllr Belsey said that families who help by providing love and a secure home for a child in care, would face many challenges but also great rewards. He said: “These are vulnerable children who, for one reason or another, are not able to live with their birth families. What they need is the supportive environment of a loving home.
“Being a carer does bring many challenges but I know from speaking to many of our existing carers that it is also hugely rewarding. Carers should also be reassured that they will be given training and full on-going support from our outstanding team.”
So what about you? Have you got space in your home and your heart to help a child? If you want more information give us a call on 01323 464129 or visit www.fillaspace.co.uk
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