This page contains a number of links and helpful documents that contain lots of help and advice on health matters for all sections of our community.

FOSTERING. BY Renae Inman.

(Executive member of the forum)

Fostering means providing safe and supportive homes for children and young people when they need it most. If you are a foster carer, you look after a child in your own home. This could be for a number of reasons, such as bereavement, illness or difficulties at home.

Currently there is a national shortage of foster carers, children from 0-17 are coming into the care system for whatever reasons and there is not enough foster carers therefore these children are having to be being turned away.

It doesn't matter if you are in a hetrosexual or a same sex relationship you will be considered for the assessment process They will even consider single carers. This process takes aproximately nine months from the first assessment to going to panel. During this time you will have the chance to discuss any concerns decide what age group would suit your family and there is a fantastic six week training course which prepares you for fostering, which you will receive certificates for. This is done on a Saturday so may not interfere if people work through the week. Once you are fostering the training continues , there is also support groups you can attend.

Myself and my partner are the first same sex couple to apply to Tree house. We have had alot of support in the last year, we have been with them, and know if we were discriminated against we could speak to someone there. We applied last september and got through to panel in June this year.Since July we have been fostering two beautiful children aged 8 months and 2 years. I have given up my full time job to look after them whilst my partner is at university. Since we have been with Tree House they have started the assessment on two more same sex couples and would like more to come forward.

Fostering may send you on a rollercoaster of emotions and may not always be easy at times but it is one of the most rewarding jobs you could do and one that actually makes a difference to the lives of children.

If you would like to know more about fostering or about Tree House fostering agency feel free to ring Renae on 01709 252598 or email on renren1@hotmail.co.uk, alternatively you can look at the agency website www.treehousecare.org/