Herts county council make film to help find foster families for 900 children in care

Some children put in foster care with the help of the council are taken outside of the county, so the authority has made an appeal for more local families.

The film follows a 12-year-old girl whose mum is unable to care for her, and she is shown feeling neglected, scared and needing help. It also follows a couple who foster the 12-year-old.

The council’s cabinet member for children, Teresa Heritage, said: “I was overwhelmed when I saw the film for the first time and I hope it will inspire local people to consider becoming foster carers with Hertfordshire County Council.

“We are particularly in need of foster carers for older children like the young person featured in our film. Many people whose children have left home and have time on their hands feel as though something is missing in their lives.

“Fostering offers the opportunity to make a life-changing contribution to the lives of vulnerable children and young people looked after by Hertfordshire, so please consider becoming a foster carer.”

The council’s head of fostering and adoption, Sue Lowndes, said: “Each month we receive an average of 55 requests for new foster placements, many of these are for children over the age of 10 years, but there are also many requests for sibling groups”.

“Our children come from diverse backgrounds, and we need a range of foster carers from different backgrounds to find the best match. Ideally, we want them to be placed locally so they can more easily have contact with family and friends and go to the same school.

“Our foster carers tell us fostering gives them a sense of fulfilment and that they are making a real difference to a child’s life. We hope our film shows how sharing your home and heart with a child who needs your support, can bring back their smile and transform their lives and future.”

To find out more about fostering, visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/somethingmissing or call 0800 917 0925.