Coffee mornings for people interested in finding out more about fostering

A series of coffee mornings are taking place next week across the city for anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer.

Staff from the Council's Foster for Manchester team and social workers will be available to provide advice and information about fostering, and existing foster carers will also be on hand for a chat over a cup of coffee about their own experiences of foster care.

The coffee mornings take place at the following times and venues:

Tuesday 27 September 10 am - 2 pm at North City Library
Wednesday 28 September 10 am - 1 pm at Whalley Range Sure Start Centre
Friday 30 September 10 am - 12 noon at Ardwick Children's Centre

Anyone can apply to become a foster carer; it doesn't matter if you are single, married, straight or gay, rent or own your home, have children or are unemployed.

The Council needs foster carers from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds for children and young people of all ages. Carers are particularly needed for older children, sibling groups, black minority ethnic children and young people, mother and baby carers, and short break carers for disabled children.

There are many different ways to get involved in fostering, as long as you are a UK resident and have a spare room to offer a child - from short or long term fostering, to providing short break or therapeutic foster care. More information on each of these types of fostering will be available at the coffee mornings.

Foster carers receive support to help them do their job, including regular contact with social workers, groups for foster carers, and support from the Foster Carer Support Team and Manchester Foster Care Association.

Councillor Afzal Khan, Executive Member for Children's Services, Manchester City Council, said: "The rewards that come from fostering - for both the child and the foster carer - can be life changing.

"We are in constant need of foster carers to look after the children and young people who come into our care. 

"If you have room in your home and in your heart to provide a safe and loving environment for these vulnerable young people, then I would encourage you to come along to the coffee mornings to find out more."

For more information about fostering for Manchester visit http://www.fosterformanchester.com/

For more information about Manchester City Council visit http://www.manchester.gov.uk/