FOSTER carers across Gedling are being asked to help find homes for Syrian refugee children arriving in the city over the next few months.
More foster families are being sought to help care for unaccompanied children arriving here after fleeing Syria.
Three million people have so far been displaced from Syria in a bid to escape civil war and the exodus is thought to be one of the largest forced migrations since the Second World War.
The UK is likely to see up to 20,000 refugees from Syria come in to the country over the next five years, with priority being given to vulnerable children and orphans.
No figures have been set for Nottingham so far but the City has always played a full part in accommodating refugees fleeing violence and persecution and works closely with voluntary sector organisations to achieve this, such as the Refugee Forum and Nottingham Citizens’ group.
http://gty.im/457979272
Nottingham City Council is keen to find foster carers across the borough who will provide the children arriving in the area with long-term support and the opportunity to be part of a family in the UK.
Cllr David Mellen, Portfolio Holder for Early Help and Early Intervention, said: “The Syrian refugee situation is a massive humanitarian crisis and many people in the UK and in Nottingham will be touched by the personal stories of those involved and will want to do their bit to help.
“If Nottingham wants to do its share to help, we need to prepare ourselves now by recruiting and training sufficient approved foster families who will be able to meet the demand.”
The process of becoming a fully approved foster carer can take from six to eight months and includes medical and family references and vetting. This process is essential to meet the safeguarding needs of vulnerable children and foster families. So we need to accelerate our recruitment of foster carers so that we are ready to welcome children over the next few months.
To find out more about becoming a foster carer for Nottingham City Council, please call 0115 876 3335 or visit http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/foster where you will be able to book onto one of our regular information evenings.
http://gty.im/457979272
