Five Rivers Child Care, a Social Enterprise, is calling on experienced care givers to offer up their skills and time to provide respite to foster carers across London.
There are currently 4,090 children* in foster care in the region and a further 930 foster carers are needed across London to stem the fostering shortfall.
With Christmas just around the corner, Five Rivers Child Care wants to thank all of the foster carers currently looking after some of the region’s most vulnerable children and young people. The social enterprise is also calling for those with care giving experience and the relevant transferable skills to consider applying to be respite or short-term foster carers.
Respite carers take in a foster child for a limited time period, this might be because of a family emergency or pre-planned holiday or other work commitments. Respite carers provide vital support to long term foster carers who might not otherwise have a break from their full-time role as a foster carer.
In some instances, a respite carer might look after a child for an overnight stay, a weekend, or even just after school if the foster carer is unable to get home in time.
People from all walks of life can become respite carers as long as they are over 21 years of age, including single people, co-habiting couples, same sex couples and people living in rented accommodation. The only requirement is a spare room for each foster child.
For more information about respite fostering contact Five Rivers Child Care on 0345 266 0272 or visit www.five-rivers.org
