Foster Care Fortnight - 13 to 26 May 2024

410 years of foster carers’ dedication are being celebrated during Foster Care Fortnight 2024

Long service foster care awards are being held during Foster Care Fortnight 2024 (13 to 26 May) to highlight all the fantastic support people who foster with Salford City Council give to vulnerable children.

The annual awards are held to recognise and praise the commitment and achievements of Salford foster carers.

Awards are being given to 38 carers for long service, ranging from five to 30 years. There will also be two special awards, which are newcomer of the year and a dedication to fostering.

The total number of year the carers who will be attending the event have fostered adds up to 410 years.

Being a foster carer can be very challenging, but also very rewarding. Children can come from lots of different backgrounds and situations and their needs are all different, but what they all need is love, a safe home and a caring structure. Many children have developed into positive and hopeful individuals who are now progressing well at school and with friends.

Foster Care Fortnight is an annual UK-wide foster care awareness raising campaign led by charity The Fostering Network. The theme of this year’s campaign is #FosteringMoments and aims to show every moment matters in fostering. 

Salford City Council is using this fortnight to highlight how important foster carers are and how rewarding a role it is, as well as recruit new foster carers. There are currently not enough foster carers available in the right location, at the right time to meet the needs of the children in care, both in Salford and across the UK. This means some children do not have all their needs met or have to live far away from everything familiar to them.

There is a range of support available for foster carers. All foster carers with Salford City Council are offered regular training and there is ongoing support from their own social worker, support workers, support groups and the Foster Care Association.

Foster carers also receive financial rewards to help them to provide the best possible care for the children they look after, as well as recognise their skills and commitment.

As well as attending events to promote fostering to the public, the council’s Foster for Salford team will be holding the following events where people can come and ask any questions about fostering:

• Monday 13 May - Foster Carers Development Day Conference at Buile Hill Hall, Salford between 10am and 2.30pm This event is open to everyone and provides the opportunity to meet a range of professionals from different areas of the council and also the Foster Carer Association who will share advice on the support they offer carers and a discussion about tax returns.
• Tuesday 14 May – Meet the fostering team at Walkden shopping centre to find out more about the rewards of becoming a foster carer, from 12pm to 2pm.
• Wednesday 15 May - Meet the fostering team around Worsley Green to find out more about the rewards of becoming a foster carer, 12.30pm to 2.30pm
• Thursday 16 May - Meet the fostering team at Tesco Cadishead between 12pm to 2pm to find out more about the rewards of becoming a foster carer
• Monday 20 May - Meet the fostering team at Tesco/shopping centre Salford between 12pm to 2pm to find out more about the rewards of becoming a foster carer.
• Tuesday 21 May - Meet the fostering team at MediaCity between 12pm to 2pm to find out more about the rewards of becoming a foster carer.

For the in-person events, we encourage people to book a time to speak to someone, but they can also drop-in. To book on either the in-person, or online events, and for more information, please email: fosterforus@salford.gov.uk

For more information about fostering with Salford City Council visit the fostering web pages, call 0161 799 1268 or email: fosterforus@salford.gov.uk

This page was last updated on 11 May 2024