Inclusion and Well-being

Surrey County Council - Supported Lodgings/Foster Care

Supported Lodgings, and Fostering are both incredibly rewarding experiences that can transform the lives of both the children/young people being supported and the carers’ themselves. Children and young people who enter the care system have often experienced trauma and instability in their lives, and a stable and supportive carer family can make a significant difference in their wellbeing and development.

Nationally, there are currently over 70,000 children living with carer families in the UK. However, there is still a significant shortage of Supported Lodgings and foster carers, with around 9,265 new carer families needed in the next year alone. In Surrey, there are over 1,000 children in care and Surrey County Council have just under 400 carer families.

Supported Lodgings is targeted at young adults aged 16-21 to help them build their independence skills ready to live independently in the future, from the security of a caring, stable home environment.

Supported Lodgings Carers and Foster carers come from all walks of life and backgrounds, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to caring. Whether you are single or married, young or old, own your own home or rent, you can still become a carer. The most important thing is a willingness to provide a safe and loving home for a child in need.

This is the message that Surrey County Council is promoting in its recruitment film ‘Any of Us’. The short film has been jointly funded by over 80 councils across England and aims to raise awareness about fostering, particularly among those people who may not have previously considered themselves suited to caring for vulnerable children and young people. The film looks at the potential of three people from different backgrounds to become carers, and the potential of children they care for to grow and thrive. ‘Any of Us’ is available to watch from the 26th September.

If you have ever thought about fostering, or offering Supported Lodgings, now is the time to take that first step and find out more. The more people who consider caring, the greater the chance of finding loving, stable homes for children in Surrey who desperately need them.