More than 600 pairs of children's shoes were placed on the steps of Nottingham Council House as a stark representation of the number of children in council care.
It forms part of a campaign designed to highlight the need for people to become foster carers and provide a stable, loving home to the 615 children who find themselves in the care of the local authority.
There is a particular need for places for older children and also brother and sister sibling groups.
Fostering Sunday on May 12 aims to highlight the need for more people to become foster carers. The advantages, both to the child and the carer, include:
- Providing a secure and loving environment
- Giving a platform for academic stability
- Experience of family life
- Satisfaction of helping a vulnerable child
- Developing a relationship that can last a lifetime
The shoes pictured at the steps of the Council House, Old Market Square, will be distributed among the different churches taking part on Fostering Sunday before being donated to charity.
Fostering Sunday will also help to promote the '100 Homes' appeal, which has been organised by a group called Nottingham City Prayer, to help Nottingham City Council find 100 foster carers for children in the city in three years by reaching out to different churches and faith groups.
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Ahead of a campaign called the Foster Care Fortnight, which begins on Monday, May 13, church leaders will take the opportunity to promote fostering to their congregations in Nottingham.
Alison Michalska, corporate director for children and adults at Nottingham City Council, said: “Fostering Sunday is a wonderful way to spread the message about fostering.
"We are delighted that Nottingham churches are supporting our on-going drive to find new foster carers.
“It’s also a great start to Foster Care Fortnight where we hope to encourage more people to change a child’s life and make a difference by becoming a foster carer.”
Michael Lyden, of Nottingham City Prayer, added: “We are a little over a year into the 100 Homes campaign and already have 12 new foster homes approved with another eight in the pipeline.
"This great start is already delivering great outcomes for some of the city’s most vulnerable children.
“Yet it feels like we are on the cusp of a much bigger wave that will see the full 100 new homes come in. We understand that not everyone can foster but we do believe that everyone can do something that can make a difference to the city’s most vulnerable children.”
People above the age of 21 can foster.
The council works with:
- Individuals and couples of any sexual orientation (married/divorced/living together/same sex/civil partnership)
- People with or without children
- Disabled people
- Home owners or tenants
- Working and unemployed people
- Any religious faith or no faith
- All racial and ethnic backgrounds
A city council fostering information meeting takes place on Tuesday, May 21, at Loxley House from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
To find out more, visit: www.fosteringnottingham.com.
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