Hull Fostering is a dedicated team of more than 50 staff who support nearly 300 foster carers and almost 800 young people in the city of Hull.
Our mission is to provide a nurturing and stable environment for children and young people in care, ensuring they have the best possible start in life.
We work tirelessly to recruit new foster carers and retain our existing ones, especially in the face of a national shortage of foster carers. In the past year alone, we approved 20 new mainstream foster carers, doubling the number from the previous year.
We decided to enter the Children & Young People Now Awards because we wanted to highlight the incredible work our team does every day. We believe our innovative approaches to recruitment and retention, as well as our unwavering commitment to the children and young people we serve, make our work stand out.
Our efforts are crucial because they directly impact the lives of care-experienced young people and foster carers, providing them with the support and stability they need to thrive.
One of our biggest achievements to date is the significant increase in the number of new foster carers we've approved. This not only helps address the shortage but also ensures more children can be found loving, supportive homes.
The awards night was an unforgettable experience. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our team and to connect with other professionals who share our passion for supporting children and young people.
Winning the Public Sector Children's Team Award was an incredible feeling. It was a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. The recognition has helped raise our profile, making it easier to attract new foster carers and secure funding for future projects. It has also been a great morale booster for our team, reaffirming that our efforts are making a real difference.
Our young people and foster carers were thrilled to hear about our award. It is a validation of the positive impact we're having on their lives and a reminder that their experiences and stories matter.
Looking ahead, we have exciting plans to develop new support and training programmes for our carers, set ambitious recruitment targets and focus on areas of need within our community.
We encourage other children's and youth services projects to consider entering the Children & Young People Now Awards. It is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work, gain recognition, and connect with like-minded professionals. www.hullfostering.co.uk
