Rotherham Council is stepping up its campaign to encourage more local people to consider becoming foster carers by launching its first ever television advert.
The 30-second commercial is airing for the first time this week using Sky Adsmart, which can target different types of households in a specific area. The advert is also available to view on the Council’s YouTube Channel and will be shared on its social media channels.
The TV adverts are part of a concerted campaign to raise awareness about how rewarding fostering can be and how foster carers change the lives of local children for the better. In addition to television, the Council is also advertising on radio, in the local press and on giant roadside billboards.
Research has highlighted that we need an additional 8,000 foster carers nationwide to ensure that there are sufficient placements available to meet the needs of looked after children.
In Rotherham, the Council urgently needs foster carers from all walks of life and backgrounds to join the Fostering Rotherham family. Fostering can be provided on a full-time or part-time basis. It doesn’t matter about your employment status, your age (as long as you’re 21+), your sexuality, if you’re single or married, if you already have children or if you rent or own your home.
Councillor Victoria Cusworth, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Rotherham Council said: “There are children of all ages in our community, right now, who need local people with the love in their heart and the room in their home to provide a safe, loving environment that they can thrive in.
“Our foster carers are unsung heroes. Through our campaign, we want to draw attention to the life-changing work they do and encourage more people from our borough to join Rotherham’s fostering family.”
The Council increased a range of fees paid to its foster carers in April 2023, including additional payments for people caring for children with complex needs, plus increased fees to cover expenses like mileage and day care costs.
As well as payment, the Council also offers a wealth of expert help, therapeutic support and training, as well as access to the Fostering Rotherham community – fellow foster carers who are happy to share their own knowledge and experience when it comes to dealing with the challenges and decisions that fostering, just like parenthood, brings.
More information about fostering in Rotherham is available from www.fosteringrotherham.com or by calling the Fostering Rotherham team on 01709 357 370.