Project to help find foster families for young refugees in Harborough and Leicestershire get thousands of online views in just a few days

A new project which aims to find foster families for young refugees in Harborough and Leicestershire has already been viewed online almost 4,000 times since being launched last week.

Place to Call Home is a partnership between local authorities across the East Midlands, led by Leicestershire County Council.

They are seeking to recruit about 40 foster carers and supported lodgings providers across the region.

The digital launch took place on Facebook.

It featured details of the regional campaign and an insight into the experiences of foster carer, Pat, and the young Vietnamese girl she’s currently fostering.

Over 30 calls were received by the scheme’s team on the day of the launch as well as emails and Facebook enquiries from kind-hearted people across the East Midlands.

At the end of March 2019, there were 310 young unaccompanied refugees in the care of local authorities in the East Midlands.

Foster carers support these young people day-to-day, providing safety, security and a family environment.

Saffron, 42, was a foster carer for unaccompanied young refugees for four years and is applying again to foster through the project.

“I am passionate about caring for and supporting children and young people who arrive into the UK unaccompanied,” said Saffron.

“It is important for me to make a difference and with this role, it gives me the freedom to be me and to take a different approach and think outside of the box while supporting others.”

Cllr Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council’s cabinet member for children and families, said: “There are many reasons why a young person may have been unsafe in their home country.

“The things they may have experienced, alongside arriving in a new country alone, without family or support, can be terribly frightening.

“We are very proud to be leading this project.

“We hope to find kind, caring and generous foster carers to care for and support these young people and offer them a place to call home.”

She added: “I would encourage anyone who feels they have the necessary skills or experience to foster to get in touch with the team and find out more about how the role could change the lives and futures of young refugees.”

A strong training and support package is in place for foster carers looking after young refugees and includes specific training relating to issues such as language barriers and the asylum process.

You can still view the launch event on the project’s Facebook page here at: www.facebook.com/homeeastmidlandsFor more information about fostering young refugees visit www.placetocallhome.org.uk, call 0116 305 5898 or email [email protected]