Twenty councils in the south east of England have formed the country’s largest local authority fostering partnership in a bid to boost the number of carers in the region.
The virtual fostering hub, which launched yesterday, will offer prospective carers access to a centralised platform for their enquiries, and marketing campaigns will raise awareness of the role of a carer.
Prospective foster carers will also be able to speak to an existing carer through a new ambassador scheme.
There are more than 11,000 children in care across the region but fewer than 3,000 local authority approved foster carers.
The south east region is one of nine to form a fostering hub through a Department for Education funded pilot scheme.
Regional strategic lead Natasha Sampson said: ‘For the first time in the south east, we are leveraging the collective skills, knowledge, resources and support of 20 local authorities to make sure children and young people have a stable home, in a loving family, which they all deserve.’
The local authorities involved are:
- Achieving for Children (London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames, The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames and The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead)
- Bracknell Forest Council
- Brighton and Hove City Council
- East Sussex County Council
- Hampshire County Council
- Isle of Wight Council
- Kent County Council
- Medway Council
- Milton Keynes City Council
- Oxfordshire County Council
- Portsmouth City Council
- Brighter Futures for Children (Reading)
- Slough Borough Council
- Southampton City Council
- Surrey County Council
- West Berkshire Council
- West Sussex County Council
- Wokingham Borough Council
