Brenda Farrell, director of fostering and adoption at Barnardo's, emphasized, "Today thousands of children in care are waiting for safe, happy homes and there simply aren't enough foster carers to accommodate them." This underscores the urgency of addressing the fostering crisis as the demand for suitable placements for vulnerable children continues to rise.
An alarming statistic from recent polling showed that while 73% of UK adults recognize the fostering crisis, only 7% of those currently not fostering would even consider doing so in the next decade. This gap highlights a significant disconnect between awareness and action.
Many potential foster carers face barriers; 82% of over-55s believe they are too old, despite that being the average age of a Barnardo's foster carer. Furthermore, concerns about suitable accommodation and financial limitations further hinder recruitment efforts for new foster carers.
Farrell also pointed out the importance of tackling root causes, stating, "We need a national campaign to recruit more foster carers, as well as investment in help for families before they reach crisis point." This calls for both immediate and systemic solutions.
#fostering-crisis #childrens-welfare #barnardos-charity #foster-care-recruitment #impact-of-pandemic
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