Foster Carers in Torbay have been sharing what they love about Fostering – and if you’re thinking of becoming a Foster Carer you can meet them at one of a number of upcoming events.

We are currently surveying local Foster Carers to ask them what they think about Fostering and as part of our ongoing work with them to promote Fostering and increase recruitment. Foster Carers will be supporting the Council’s Fostering team at a number of upcoming events including the Jobs Fair at the Assembly Rooms, Town Hall Torquay on Friday 20 October open to the public from 10 am to 12.30pm.

The survey is currently still ongoing but comments so far have included

• “It’s the best thing ever.”
• “Life-affirming. Rewarding. Fun. Challenging. Exhilarating.”
• “Feeling like you’re making a difference and giving something back to the community.”
• “Knowing you are helping a child to live in a safe loving home.”

The Fostering team will also be on hand at the event to talk to other local employers about how to apply for Fostering Friendly accreditation – after the Council was awarded the status in May this year.

Councillor Nick Bye, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People for Torbay, said: “Many of our local Foster Carers have described Fostering as a gift and a privilege. Fostering is a lifestyle and you need to be the right person to become a Foster Carer, with a kind heart and the ability to provide a loving, stable home.

“Although Torbay Jobs Fair is primarily an event aimed at people looking for a job, the Fostering team at Torbay Council are working hard to speak to as many local people about Fostering as possible and we really want to encourage suitable people to think about whether they could become a Foster Carer. So for those people who are considering their options please do come and speak to our Fostering team.”

Torbay Jobs Fair is a free event for Torbay businesses and candidates, delivered by TDA in partnership with Torbay Council and JobCentre Plus, and is a great occasion for businesses and service providers to engage with those looking for work opportunities or to further their careers.

More information

To find out more about Torbay Jobs Fair, visit Torbay Jobs Fair - Invest In Torbay (stand bookings via Eventbrite).

In addition to the Jobs Fair, the Fostering team are attending a series of other events both in Torbay and the wider South Devon area, including libraries and town centres. A full list of events that our Fostering team are attending is available on the Torbay Council website here. 

If you are considering Fostering though. there is also more information on our website about the training available, pay and other benefits such as Fostering support groups. Find out more on our Fostering webpages. 

In addition local employers thinking of applying for Fostering Friendly status can find out more on the Fostering Network website. 

You can also contact the Fostering team on 01803 207845 or visit the Fostering pages. 

Local Foster Carer case study

Foster Carers in Torbay themselves also support our Fostering recruitment events.

Martin, a local Foster Carer, has supported a number of our events this year.

Martin said: “The best thing about fostering for myself, my wife and son is seeing children recover and grow into amazing people, especially when they have had a traumatic upbringing and disadvantaged start in life.

“We’ve lived with and supported many children and young people over the past six years. Emergency Foster Care support has given us the opportunity to be there for a child at a very traumatic and scary time in their lives. We’re 100% there for them at this time, give them a friendly, caring home for them to feel safe, cared for, valued, and believed in. They also have their own bedroom, an important personal safe space for them at this difficult time.

“Offering regular short-term respite to other Foster Carers has given us the opportunity to regularly have the same children staying with us over several years. We have now become part of their lives and they ours, being there of them as they grow up and we enjoy this time together.

“We often met or hear from the children who we have previously cared for and knowing that we helped them to achieve the impossible is the best feeling in the world. Fostering can be hard and very demanding at times, but the positives of the role outweigh any negatives, when you can see the difference you have made to a child’s life you know you have done something right.”

Martin is pictured at a Fostering event in Paignton earlier this year with another local Foster Carer, David.