Over a fifth of foster children in London are placed at least 20 miles from home – a much higher proportion than the rest of the UK – because there are not enough foster carers to meet demand within the capital, says leading charity the Fostering Network.
Recent figures published by the government reveal that foster children in London have to travel for hours to visit family and friends. Others face having their education disrupted as they are forced to move to a school closer to their foster home.
In London there is currently a shortage of 2,000 foster carers and across the UK the figure rises to 10,000. Such shortages greatly narrow the options for fostering services seeking to place children with foster families able to provide the right support close to home. Research shows that children placed with foster carers not best suited to their needs often experience more placement moves and greater disruption.
To address this situation the Fostering Network is launching a two week campaign, Foster Care Fortnight, from 14–27 May to call on Londoners to think about helping a child in their community by becoming a foster carer. Foster Care Fortnight is the ideal time to approach local fostering services to find our more about becoming a foster carer.
Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, said:
"It is unacceptable that such a high proportion of children find themselves moved so far when they come into foster care. It is a difficult enough experience for some of London’s most vulnerable children without the added stress of a school move, or friends and family who are suddenly hours away across the capital.
"It is a sad fact that children in the care system do not achieve as highly as their peers in the classroom. Only 11 per cent gained five GCSE grades A* to C, compared to 56 per cent of all children in the UK. Frequent school moves put children in care at a real educational disadvantage, and that is all too clear when you look at the figures."
Clive Morrison, a foster carer from London, said:
"I specialise in caring for black teenagers. This is an age when education and maintaining links with friends is crucial. From experience I know the benefits of a well-matched placement. In the past I’ve worked with kids from different cultural backgrounds, but it’s better to work with West Indians like myself, as they can relate better to me and my network of friends. If a teenager in my care is able to stay at the same school and keep in touch with family and friends they are much more likely to thrive.�?
The launch of a specially commissioned photographic exhibition in London will mark the start of Foster Care Fortnight. The exhibition includes photographs of 27 foster carers who have been selected from around the UK to illustrate the diverse range of ages, skills and backgrounds that are needed to care for the equally diverse 50,000 children in foster care on any given day in the UK. The exhibition will tour the UK during Foster Care Fortnight.