A number of businesses have pledged their support to a new Fostering Friendly Scheme launched by North Lincolnshire Council.
Businesses who have already committed their support include Deligraze, Hirst Priory, The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft, Mumaroo, The Islamic Centre and Belton Kitchen.
Following the launch at the Baths Hall, a further 20 businesses want to find out how they can get involved and join the other flagship organisations driving the Fostering Friendly Scheme forward across North Lincolnshire.
Hazel Wheatley, MD of Hirst Priory, said: “We look forward to supporting the scheme in any way we can. We will be reviewing our HR policy to include fostering friendly support, provide work experience for young people in care and a safe space for foster carers to gather for social events, offering sponsorship prizes as well as displaying information across our various platforms.”
Cllr Julie Reed, cabinet member for children and families, said: “Our foster carers are the most amazing, resilient, and dedicated people who show love and empathy to all of our children.
“Every child deserves the chance to live a full life, to reach for the stars and our foster carers support and enable them in achieving this into adulthood.
“This scheme is an initiative that we as an existing Fostering Friendly employer are proud to be a part of and are looking to businesses and employers in our community to support the inspirational work that our foster carers do every day and empower them to continue to guide them into adulthood, transforming our children’s lives.
“Many of our foster carers choose to foster alongside employment and it is refreshing to see so many local businesses pledging their support. It will ensure that our children can continue to grow up in their community, with local foster carers being supported by a Fostering Friendly County.”
The Fostering Friendly Scheme is open to all types of businesses and organisations and will focus on two strands: helping employers to support and understand the roles of their employees who foster or who might be interested in fostering alongside raising awareness of and supporting fostering in the community.
Ray Nolan, Director of Nolan Interiors Limited, said: “The whole event was extremely positive and highlighted the amazing work foster carers provide for children, especially in encouraging and supporting them to succeed in life.
“These children are the employers and employees of the future and as a local business, I am more than happy to support this scheme however I can.”
Members of the Fostering Friendly Scheme can engage and support in a variety of ways – all of which can be individualised to each organisation.
The engagement could include raising awareness in the community and across social media, offering discounts for foster carers or children in care, providing work experience, offering space for training, or even putting in place a HR policy for all foster carers in their employment that offers flexibility to their employees.
Those who join the scheme will receive comprehensive information, guidance, and support from the North Lincolnshire Council’s Fostering Team throughout the entire process and during their time as a member of the scheme.
If you are interested in finding out more and signing up to this scheme, contact the team on 01724 297000, email fostering@northlincs.gov.uk or express your interest on the North Lincolnshire council website.
