Stockport Council is one of 23 local authorities backing the #youcanfoster campaign which aims to address the shortage of foster carers in Stockport and in the North West, and to dispel some of the out-dated misconceptions about children in foster care as well as those who are eligible to foster.

Ron, a local Stockport foster carer, said: “Our own family had grown up and left home, throughout the normal family life, some ups, some downs, they were happy and achieved in life. We wanted to give something back so we decided to foster with Stockport. We foster young people from the local area who go to local schools and for us the support is local and the fantastic training opportunities are local. Overall it has been an incredible and rewarding experience.”

Councillor Colin Foster Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Children and Family Services, said: “Stockport is delighted to be involved in this joint campaign between local authorities to encourage local residents to think about whether they are in a positive position to provide a loving home for our older local children and to encourage them to enquire with their local authority.

“Fostering teenagers can be challenging at times but it can also be very rewarding to support the development of a young person. Finding people with the right skills to foster older children is a priority for Stockport Council and our foster carers benefit from the support and training the local authority provides to them.”

The You Can Foster local authority teams hosted an event at the InTu Trafford Centre on Monday 12th September evening and Stockport Council’s fostering team handed out leaflets and explained about the different types of fostering schemes available to local residents in Stockport.

Stockport is currently looking to attract people to come forward to consider fostering teenagers and brothers and sisters. Foster carers for Stockport Council receive a full training package, ongoing support, a tax-free allowance and a financial package for each young person each week.

Applications are welcomed from a wide variety of backgrounds, including single, married, in a civil partnership, living in your own home, rented or council accommodation.

For more information on becoming a foster carer for Stockport Council call 0161 474 3400 or visit the website www.youcanfoster.org