Hampshire County Council is calling on more people to come forward and care for vulnerable children in need of loving homes this winter and beyond.

The County Council’s latest campaign to find more foster carers is inspired by the real-life story of local foster carer Hannah, whose reflections on her own experiences of fostering have been transformed into a heart-warming new film. Played out in a charming short animation and voiced by a fellow foster carer, Hannah’s message is that the most special moments are often the most everyday – from building ‘forts’ with sofa cushions to stargazing before bedtime – and that these moments have the power to positively change foster carers and the children in their care.

Commenting on the new campaign, Councillor Roz Chadd, the County Council’s Cabinet Lead for Children’s Services, said: “Hannah’s words remind us of a simple but powerful message: that the everyday moments of family life, which are so often taken for granted, can make a huge difference to a vulnerable child - for whom such moments may have previously been a rarity.

(Image: Hampshire County Council) “We always need new foster carers as people either retire from fostering or their personal circumstances change. Our foster carers come from lots of different backgrounds and undertake many types of fostering arrangements to fit around their lives while meeting children’s individual needs. We provide comprehensive training and support, and don’t expect people to come to us with expert knowledge – all we ask is that our carers are over 21 years old, have a spare room, and can provide a safe, secure and loving home.

“If this sounds like you, please get in touch with our Fostering Service to find out more. That conversation could be the first step in changing a child’s life.”

On seeing her words turned into a campaign, foster carer Hannah said: “It has been amazing to see my message come to life through the campaign, and to see my words take on an added meaning.

“Often people say to me “I couldn’t do what you do” but the reality is that it’s so important for people to consider fostering if it’s something they could do. It is vital that we keep finding new carers in our Hampshire communities, to provide therapeutic and nurturing homes for children and young people.”

The County Council’s Fostering Service welcomes foster carers from many different walks of life, including carers from the LGBTQ+ community and of different faiths, single carers, and people from ethnic minority backgrounds. Carers are not required to own their own homes or to have previous childcare experience and will receive competitive allowances and excellent training. Ongoing support is provided by a dedicated social worker and via the Hampshire Hive project, a support network of local groups which create an ‘extended family’ for foster carers and their children in communities across Hampshire.

(Image: Hampshire County Council) Fostering opportunities include both short-term and long-term fostering; emergency and out-of-hours care; respite and home-from-home care designed to give families a short break from caring for children with disabilities; and parent and child fostering where a carer supports a young parent and their family. Carers can foster children and young people of all ages, from babies through to teenagers, as well as sibling groups and children with additional needs and disabilities.

Visit the Hampshire County Council Fostering Service website to find out more about fostering, upcoming events, training and support, and details of how to contact the service.