Make a real difference this foster care fortnight.

Bury's foster care team are hosting local events and online webinars to support anyone interested in fostering, throughout foster care fortnight.

This year’s theme is Fostering Moments. The Fostering Network is encouraging all those involved with fostering children to share the moments that have mattered to them, and by sharing their experiences help encourage others to foster.

Councillor Lucy Smith, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Fostering Moments that matter to me are when I get to hear directly from our foster carers and children in Bury. Listening to their positive experiences makes me proud of our fostering family. It also gives me the confidence to recommend fostering with Bury to anyone who may be interested. I highly encourage anyone considering fostering to get in touch with our dedicated team who will be able to answer your questions and support you every step of the way. We all want the very best for our children and fostering plays a vital role in supporting young people’s success.”

To find out more about the latest events and webinars check out Foster With Bury’s website: https://www.fosterwithbury.co....

Bury Fostering Team would love to hear from you, find out more below about the support and benefits available.

The support package provided to Bury Foster Carers includes a Council Tax discount of 50% is one of the many rewards on offer for those who become foster carers.

Further benefits:

Adjustment Fee

Foster carers could receive a discretionary payment equivalent to the Foster Carer Professional Fee for two weeks at the end of a challenging placement, when a long-term placement comes to an unexpected end, a difficult disruption or, at a time of bereavement, to offer some time and space to carers without worrying about having no income from fostering.

Short Breaks

Foster carers will receive an annual Short Break Allowance of 7 nights for which they will be paid their fee while the child stays with a different foster carer. Carers will receive the allowance even if they do not take the short break.

Retainer Fee

This is to help carers worried about being able to financially manage if there was a gap between caring for children. It is linked to the day rate equivalent of the Professional Fee for 4 weeks maximum per year per fostering household.

PAMS Assist/Silver Cloud

This is an employee benefit scheme, extended to foster carers, which covers emotional/well-being support as well as financial and legal advice. Carers have reported that this additional support is welcome and cited mental health support following the pressures of the Covid pandemic as reassuring.

Max Card

The Max Card is the UK’s leading discount card for cared for and looked after children. Families can use their Max Card at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission. Bury Council already purchases the Max card for our children and young people aged 3 years and over.

Blue Light Card

This is a discount service for the emergency services, NHS, social care sector and armed forces, providing members with thousands of discounts online and on the high street. Blue Light card holders can download an App and access a huge range of discounts for the family. This is beneficial for fostering families to get discounts on a variety of things including activities, day trips, goods, cinema visits etc. The cost of this benefit is £5, payable every three years. We will encourage our carers to apply for this themselves and claim this back from us via their expenses.

To find out more about events and webinars check out Foster With Bury’s social media.
Facebook/X: @FosterWithBury

If you are interested in fostering with Bury contact:

Email: fosterwithbury@bury.gov.uk

Phone: 0800 9555 311

Visit: https://www.fosteringwithbury.co.uk/