October is Black History Month and this year the theme is ‘Honouring Our Communities’.
We spoke to our fostering service about celebrating the contribution of our Black foster carers. These foster carers are looking after the vulnerable children and young people in Reading who come from all sorts of backgrounds, welcoming them into their homes and building a community around the children to help them remain connected to their heritage. Some may be feeling that connection for the first time, while for others it helps to maintain a sense of familiarity at an unsettled time.
“At Reading Fostering Service, we are lucky to have a strong representation of Black foster carers. They are committed and driven women and men who give Black and dual heritage children in care the connection and sense of identity that they need. We hope to recruit more foster carers from this community in order to continue meeting the needs of children from these backgrounds”.
Belinda is one of our foster carers. She is British and has a Jamaican family. She says:
“As a Black carer, I may have more understanding of their cultural heritage and I can emphasise more on what struggles they might have in life with regards to their race. However, that doesn’t mean transracial foster families won’t work as the key priority is that the child’s needs for things like a warm, safe home are being met.”
Steffi, Registered Manager of Reading Fostering Service says of our Black foster carers:
“They also act as a buddy or mentor for their fellow foster carers who are not Black but may be looking after Black or dual heritage children. They can offer support to help them look after the specific hair and skin needs that they may have, share their traditions, recipes and more.
“We have a diverse range of children who come into care, from all walks of life. I hope that we will always have a diverse team of foster carers who are able to reflect this. In Reading, as is the picture nationally, children and young people who are Black, dual heritage or from global majority backgrounds are over-represented in care.”
But we need more Black foster carers
In the meantime, we do need more Black carers. By having a team of foster carers from Black and other diverse ethnic backgrounds, who bring different religions, cultures and life experiences builds a strong community. A community of carers to look after these children in their own homes and to support other foster carers who are doing so. A community that can share resources to support Reading’s vulnerable children and young people together.”
Are you interested in fostering?
You can contact us at 0300 131 2797 or email info@lafosteringse.org.uk.
You can also read more fostering stories here: Real fostering stories in Reading.