Comment: Nothing but good wishes for county's children in care

If you had one wish, what would it be? To win the lottery perhaps or marry a film star?
BCC Cllr Lin HazellBCC Cllr Lin Hazell
BCC Cllr Lin Hazell

The wish for the cared-for children in our county is far simpler than that, however.

All they want is a happy, secure and loving home in Buckinghamshire near their friends and family.

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Sadly, this is a wish that is eternally proving really difficult to fulfil because, for various reasons, there are simply not enough foster carers in this county.

This may well mean that the children have to go outside of Bucks and leave everything they have known and grown up with.

It’s a situation that we as a Council are doing our utmost to confront, but we need your help.

If you believe you may want to foster, then please approach us to find out more – a simple inquiry will not mean a commitment.

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You can do this at any time, but may want to tie it in with national Fostering Fortnight which runs from May 16 to May 29.

The theme in Bucks this year is ‘Wishes’. We will be placing trees in public libraries and residents will be encouraged to place messages and special wishes of any kind on the branches.

To kick-off of the campaign, I will be placing the first wish on a tree at Aylesbury Library on May 16.

It’s no secret what my wish will be – it will be for you, the public to use Fostering Fortnight to find out more and see if giving a home to a cared-for child is right for you.

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The really good news, which I reported to full Council last week, is that permanent homes have recently been found for 33 children and a further 17 of our looked-after youngsters are going to university.

The not-so-good news is that the list of children in care never seems to shrink below the 400-mark.

So come on, take the plunge and find out more about fostering.

You might actually end up making someone’s wish come true.

To find out more, call 0800 160 1900 or go to buckscc.gov.uk/fostering

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