The second phase of a major campaign to recruit foster carers has begun in earnest.
In May, Swindon Borough Council launched a massive drive to encourage more people to sign up to become foster carers.
And this month, after receiving almost 150 enquiries since May, the Council is pushing ahead with the next stage of the campaign.
Phase two, which will run until December, will place the focus on working with local businesses and organisations to help encourage more people to become foster carers.
Cllr Mary Martin, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and School Attainment, said: “It’s highly encouraging to have received such a positive response from the first phase of the campaign, but we still need more people to get in touch.
“Foster care is one of the best ways to ensure a child is safe and looked after if they are in the unfortunate position of not being able to stay with their family. This can happen for a number of reasons including relationship problems, welfare concerns or parents’ illness.
“I would urge anybody who is interested to get in touch with us and together we can make a real difference to a child’s life.”
Some of the activity planned for the second phase of the campaign involves working with large local employers to encourage their staff and customers to consider becoming foster carers as well as local schools and the Wyvern Theatre.
Last year, around 350 children and teenagers needed a foster home in Swindon. The Council currently has around 70 mainstream foster carers and wants to increase that to 100.
There are many ways people can get in touch to find out more: visit the website (www.swindon.gov.uk/fostering), call the team for a chat on 07917 503447 or go along to an information session at the Lyndhurst Centre, in Lyndhurst Crescent, SN3 2RW.
The next information session is being held on Tuesday, 23 October from 10.30am to 11.30am.