Oxfordshire County Council are encouraging residents to become foster parents as part of a campaign.

This campaign coincides with Foster Care Fortnight, taking place from May 13 to May 26, 2024.

A figurehead for the campaign is Samantha Allen, a dedicated foster carer from Oxford for 14 years.

Ms Allen explains the wide range of fostering options, stating: "I’ve been a parent/child foster carer for the past seven years, that's when I support both the parent and their child, and I've done some emergency fostering in between.

"I love the happy endings, which come in many guises, such as seeing the children I’ve looked after maturing and growing in confidence as they prepare for life ahead.

"There are lots of other parts of the role that I love, things like watching the babies I have cared for develop and thrive and making them feel secure and loved.

"It’s also great witnessing children going onto their adopted parent or parents, and mums going home with their babies once they’ve completed a 12 week assessment with you."

The council offers significant support for its foster carers.

This includes aid from a social worker, access to sturdy networks of support services, and emphasis on forming a fostering community.

Ms Allen explains there are plenty of options to accommodate people's available time, family type, and age, providing "you're 21 or over."

Ms Allen said: "The children I have had the privilege of fostering have brought so much fun and purpose into my life."

Councillor John Howson, the council’s Cabinet Member for children, education and young people’s services said: "Samantha is a fantastic role model, along with our other 235 Oxfordshire County Council foster carers.

"Through their care and dedication, they make an enormous difference to the lives of children, who, for various reasons, need to be cared for outside of their own family.

"I am full of admiration and thank each and every one of them."

He also said: "Our aim is for children to have more stability by placing them locally with our own foster carers.

"We cannot do that unless we can recruit more people like Samantha."

Oxfordshire County Council give foster carers a number of things to help them.

This includes a welcome payment of £1,500, generous fees separate from the child’s allowance, and constant social worker support.

People interested in becoming a foster carer for Oxfordshire County Council can get more information via the council's foster care website, oxfordshire.gov.uk/fostering.

They can also email fostering@oxfordshire.gov.uk or phone 0800 783572.