Young in need of caring families

More foster carers are needed in the Newark and Sherwood area to provide homes for children.

There are 359 children living with foster families in Nottinghamshire.

The organisers of a recruitment campaign hope 60 more will have signed up to become foster carers as a result of a campaign fortnight that ends next week.

Miss Debbie Gallop (43) of Ferndale Close, Ollerton, has fostered teenage children since 1995.

She has fostered around 50 youngsters on a short-term or emergency basis with a maximum of two at once.

Miss Gallop has two children of her own, Mr Stephen Gallop (26) and Miss Rachel Gallop (25). They shared rooms with the foster children while they were staying with the family.

“This house was always like a youth club anyway,” said Miss Gallop.

“My children’s friends congregated here so it didn’t seem such a massive leap or change for us really.”

She said people could tailor the foster care they gave to suit their needs by taking older or younger children, saying when they could have the children and for how long.

Miss Gallop said: “We had been a happy family and I thought it would be good to be able to share that with children who had not been as fortunate.

“My children got used to sharing their things and their bedrooms. They grew up with it and gained a lot from it.”

The teenagers that stay with Miss Gallop always continue at their own school to minimise disruption and to keep their circle of friends.

Miss Gallop and her children stay in touch with the foster children who have stayed with them.

Miss Gallop said she felt privileged to be called an honorary grandmother or aunt to those she had looked after.

She started fostering after seeing an advertisement in a newspaper.

“If anyone is thinking of fostering I would say that they must try it because they can always change it to the way they want,” she said.

Miss Gallop said there were both positive and challenging experiences associated with fostering but said carers in Nottinghamshire were well supported by social services.

Elaine Mills, the recruitment and publicity officer for the fostering service, said: “We have an urgent need for more carers, particularly to care for teenagers and siblings.

“If you feel you could offer vital support to some of our most vulnerable children by providing them with a stable family environment while they are unable to live with their own families, we would love to hear from you.”

The fostering service provides regular training and support as well as social workers with each child.

More information is available on www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/fostering or on 0845 301 8899.