National Foster Care Fortnight starts this Monday and to mark the occasion Argyll and Bute Council is hosting a series of information events to help raise the profile of fostering in the area.
The annual campaign, which runs from 13 to 26 May, is organised by the Fostering Network and is the UK's biggest foster care awareness-raising campaign.
Foster carers can transform lives and have a huge impact on young people in their care. The council recently ran a successful fostering campaign to highlight the opportunities there are to become a foster carer and to showcase just some of the wonderful people in the area who are already making a difference.
We told you about an amazing couple who both work full-time but enquired about becoming foster carers when a child they knew was taken into care and they felt helpless. They contacted the council’s fostering team for more information and, six years later, they have looked after 13 young people to date.
Another inspiring couple we spoke to explained the rewards fostering can bring when, just four years after fostering a little girl, they went on to adopt her.
These are just two examples of the many wonderful success stories we have, but we still need many more people to help provide a loving, secure home for young people in need.
To find out more about fostering opportunities in Argyll and Bute, why not pop along to one of our information events:
Lochgilphead Library, Monday 13 May, 1-3pm.
Campbeltown Library, Tuesday 14 May, 10am-2pm.
Oban Library, Thursday 16 May, 10am-3pm.
Cardross Library, Tuesday 14 May, 2-3pm and Thursday 23 May, 10.30-11.30am.
Helensburgh Library, Tuesday 21 May, 10am-4pm.
Dunoon Library, Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 May, 10am-3pm.
Alternatively, give our fostering team a call on 01546 605517 or email familyplacementreferrals@argyll-bute.gov.uk