Interested in fostering in Wigan?
If you’re energetic, flexible, patient and understanding you could be our next superstar foster carer. There are too many myths surrounding fostering that are preventing people from considering becoming foster carers. In the UK alone we have a shortage of foster carers. An estimated 8,600 new foster families are needed to fill this gap.
At Lorimer Fostering we want to dispel these misconceptions and are searching for people interested in fostering in Wigan to provide a safe, loving, supportive home for these vulnerable young people.
Who can foster?
Most of the myths are based on who can foster. In reality, there are actually very few things that will preclude you from fostering. There is not an archetypal foster carer; we need a variety of people from an array of backgrounds, as every child is unique and the requirements vary from case to case. We welcome new people to our fostering network regardless of their marital status, gender, race or sexual orientation.
To be considered for fostering in Wigan, you should meet the following criteria:
- Be over the age of 21
- Have a spare room in your home
- Be committed to helping others
Are you energetic, flexible, patient and understanding? Do you have the time to invest in a child or young person? Do you have a bedroom to spare? Then fostering may be for you!
How much do wigan foster carers earn?
There are various reasons why people choose to foster, but the main motivation has to be the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the life of a child or young person in care. This in itself is a huge reward. However, we also believe that foster carers should be rewarded for their hard work and dedication.
Wigan foster carers are paid a weekly allowance based on how many children they have in their care. Our foster carers receive £400 for their first placement, in addition to extra support for special occasions like birthdays and religious holidays. This equals around £35,000 per year. We also provide ongoing training and round the clock support so you will always feel confident and empowered in your role.
What support is available?
The journey to fostering isn’t always smooth sailing. Children come into care for a whole range of reasons; it may be due to family illness, a parent’s depression or even drug or alcohol misuse. Some children may have been abused or neglected. Children in care often come from very difficult situations and may bring with them some challenging behaviour. We don’t believe this should be a barrier to fostering.
Our foster carers undergo specialist training to help them to cope with a range of situations. This is in addition to round-the-clock support from social workers. Often the first step in dealing with any issue you encounter is to share those experiences with a third party and your social worker is there for that. Having that sounding board is a huge advantage as any problems can be resolved together. We will also put you in touch with a network of foster carers in Wigan so you feel connected to the wider community.
At Lorimer Fostering we will be with you every step of the way to help make the fostering process a smooth, successful and enjoyable journey for both you and your foster child. If you live in Wigan and are thinking about becoming a Foster Carer, please get in touch. Lorimer Fostering can provide lots of information about fostering and becoming a Foster Carer. You can call, text or WhatsApp Rachael on 07938 575 738; or send an email to foster@lorimerfostering.com. If you would prefer us to call you, please submit your details using the form below; and we’ll get back to you soon!