'Every child deserves a safe and nurturing family'

A councillor in Medway has urged local authorities across the UK to increase the number of foster carers.

Adam Price, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for children’s services, thanked the "brilliant foster carers" in his area, but added "all councils need to recruit more".

"Every child and young person in Medway deserves a safe and nurturing family," he continued, calling local fostering families the "best chance" for those in need to thrive.

His comments come following the release of a new film - titled Everything - about fostering by more than 100 councils.

Project director Rachel Brown said the main message of the film, which follows the journey of one foster carer Mike and his family, was to show how common it was for relationships made through fostering to last well beyond the ‘official’ caring role.

"This has a huge impact on the lives of those who have been fostered, giving them stability and security well into adulthood," she said.

Mr Price said he hoped the film would help encourage people in the community to find out more about fostering and how rewarding the role can be.

The Fostering Foundation said in February 2024 that 6,000 new foster families are now needed in England, owing to a rise in the number of children in care.

They cited rising costs and changing vocations after the pandemic as partial reasons behind the shortage.

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