A place to call home, new friends to play with, praise and support, fun days out, and new toys and books to play with.

These are just a few things that can make a huge difference to a child that is unable to live with their birth family and have to live with a foster carer for any period of time, regardless if it’s Christmas. 

On Christmas Eve many Torbay residents will be trying to keep their children calm before the big man himself ‘Father Christmas’ leaves plenty of gifts in shiny wrapping paper under the tree.

This Christmas a record number of Torbay fostering households are giving our looked after children the best gift possible – a safe, happy and stable home.

One thing 2020 has taught many of us, is to take more care of each other and those who are in our local communities that are perhaps more vulnerable.

Between April and December this year, our fostering team saw a record number of people come forward to enquire about providing a short or long term home for a child that may not have had the best start in life. A total of 16 new fostering families were approved, bringing the total number of fostering households in Torbay to 87.

Cllr Cordelia Law, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Torbay Council, said; “Christmas is a time for celebrating with friends and family, and seeing the joy on children’s faces as they open their presents. As Torbay residents open their presents or tuck into their Christmas dinners this weekend, we’re asking for them to take a moment to think about whether they could help us keep a looked after child in the Bay where they belong.

Every child needs and deserves a safe place to call home, fun days out, time, attention and love. And we’re appealing for Torbay households to come forward if they can provide a safe and loving home for one of our 325 looked after children”.

As thoughts increasingly turn towards next year which may include making resolutions, the fostering team would urge Torbay residents to consider fostering in their plans.

Over the 12-days of Christmas across our social media channels, more information will be shared on the difference fostering can make to a child’s life. 

Anyone with the right support can foster. To find out more visit the fostering page or contact the team via fostering@torbay.gov.uk.