Providing Shelter

Through Somerset County Council hundreds of young people are being fostered, offering them shelter during difficult times, a stable home and the chance to lead a rich and full life.

Approved foster carers can be found across the county, and great efforts are always made to find local foster carers so that children can stay in their own community and school when they are unable to live at home.

A good foster home can make a world of difference to a child and play a key role in helping them fulfill their potential in all aspects of life. Fostering can also be a hugely rewarding experience for the carers themselves.

The County Council’s fostering and adoption team is always looking for new recruits and encouraging more people to realise that they may already have the qualities needed to become a successful foster carer - strong listening and observational skills, a good sense of humour, optimism and resilience.

At any one time there are approximately 230 children in foster care in Somerset, and foster care does not have to be full time. It can involve looking after children on a long or short-term basis, at weekends or during school holidays.

These flexible fostering approaches mean that people who are interested in fostering but may not be in a position to offer a full-time commitment can still make a massive difference to the lives of young people and contribute to the provision of a stable and consistent home background.