The Council’s Families for Children North Ayrshire team have been working hard recently to encourage local people to consider adopting or fostering a child or sibling group.
This November, the team supported the Adoption Week Scotland campaign (14-18 November) for the 9th year running.
Joanne Wilson and Fiona Campbell and their team of 17 colleagues used Adoption Week Scotland last year to launch a social media campaign called – ‘You Just Haven’t Met Me Yet’.
The aim of the campaign is to encourage local people who think they have the relevant skills and experience, to find out more about becoming adoptive parents or foster carers. This has continued online since then, raising the profile of how important and needed those interested in adopting and fostering are.
‘You Just Haven’t Met Me Yet’
Now, on the run-up to Christmas, the team have launched a festive countdown campaign called the ‘Families for Children Advent’ running throughout December on their Facebook and Twitter channels.
Joanne Howieson, Team Manager said: “Our ‘You Just Haven’t Met Me Yet’ campaign has gained lots of interest since we launched it on our Facebook: North Ayrshire Fostering & Adoption and Twitter: NA_FosterAdopt channels last month.
“The exposure has helped us to raise the profile of adoption in North Ayrshire and encourage discussions about what adopting a child involves. We are looking for people who are willing to adopt a child or sibling group or foster a child and who have a desire to better the life of sibling groups or older children that can no longer be cared for by their family.
“Since 2010 we have helped a significant number of children and young adults to find foster and adoptive families throughout North Ayrshire and we’ve had a high level of enquiries as a result of our social media campaign.
“Adoption and foster carers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and we are looking for those who have time, love, empathy and flexibility.
“We are currently still looking for people who are willing to adopt or foster a child or sibling group and who have a desire to better the life of sibling groups or older children that can no longer be cared for by their family.
“There is a need for foster and adoptive parents for both sibling groups and older children in North Ayrshire. We want to keep brothers and sisters together as much as we can. If you think you have what it takes, we need to hear from you. Please contact the Families for Children Team and make a difference to a young family’s life.”
“There is a real need for foster and adoptive parents for sibling groups and older children in North Ayrshire too. We want to keep brothers and sisters together as much as we can and most children who come into foster care are part of a sibling group already.
“We are also looking for foster and adoptive parents who are especially interested in looking after children with additional needs and disabilities.
“This year we also launched the North Ayrshire Community Short Break Service. Several staff members working across the Council are currently undergoing assessment to become short-break (foster) carers for families in need.
“If you have free time midweek and weekends and want to offer short breaks to a child you could make a difference to a child’s life.
“If you think you have what it takes to care for a sibling group, older children or a child with disabilities and want to become a foster or adoptive parent or if you’re interested in providing Short Break care we need to hear from you.”
Please don’t delay, contact the Families for Children team today
Contact the Families for Children Team now and make a difference to a young child’s life. To be eligible you must be over 25, you can be single or in a relationship (for more than two years with experience of caring for children).
Telephone: 01294 310 300
Email: adfos-enquiry@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
Facebook: @NorthAyrshireFostering&Adoption
Twitter: @NA_FosterAdopt
