Project offers 'extended family' to foster carers

A project offering support for foster families has been described as being like an "extended family".

Foster for Plymouth, a service run by the city council, said its mockingbird programme provided families with peer support, social activities and respite care in the form of sleepovers.

Foster parent and project leader Lydia Oliver said she had been fostering for 14 years and met up with other foster carers regularly to allow them to get to know and trust one another.

She said fostering was rewarding but also hard work.

"I think to have someone else come alongside you on that journey is just amazing," said Ms Oliver.

"I have good friends and support who have loved us through that, which is why we have been able to do it for 14 years; and to be able to offer that to someone else is a real privilege and honour."

Duncan and Joe Sargent, who have been fostering for 23 years, have also signed up to be leaders in the project.

Mr Sargent said: "It has grown into our extended family.

"We are there to support, not only the children, but the foster carers as well who can often struggle and find themselves on their own."

The project was launched last year and, one year on, it has been extended and now involves 20 families.

Jemima Laing, council cabinet member for children's services, said: "The success of the first mockingbird constellation has been astounding.

"It's clear that it has had real benefits for both our foster carers and our children and young people.

"I'm delighted that we're launching our second constellation so that even more of our fostering families can benefit from being part of a tight-knit community."

Foster for Plymouth said only local authority foster carers could benefit from the programme and, to be a foster carer, people must be over the age of 21, have a spare room and be genuinely interested in the welfare of children and young people.

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