October is national sons and daughters month – the perfect opportunity to celebrate the children of foster carers in Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington.

The annual campaign by The Fostering Network is aimed at honouring the vital contribution which birth children and young people make to their families who foster.

Each October, fostering services across the UK run initiatives to recognise the role children and young people play in welcoming fostered children into their home.

This month, the young people will be thanked for all their contributions and dedication, especially their valuable help and friendship.

Foster4 is committed to ensuring that foster carers’ own birth children always feel supported, which then leads to a positive experience for the fostered child as well as the carer and their own children.

They believe that the sons and daughters of foster carers are crucial to the success of each individual child’s experience and the youngsters are essential in promoting positive outcomes for children.

During the assessment process for foster carers, social workers liaise closely with the whole family unit, using activities and games to help parents and children understand what can be expected when someone new arrives in their home.

A spokesperson for Foster4 said: “Ensuring everyone in the family is fully involved in the process is key.

“We highlight the different needs children and young people may have, in an age and stage appropriate way.

“Getting children and young people involved in developing the family welcome book, that all of our families have, is a great way to include them.

“We’ve even had some of our young people create welcome vlogs, which is so child-centred, and helps families provide the very best welcome they can.”

Some sons and daughters go on to become foster carers themselves.

A few weeks ago, we featured Dayna and her husband Jonathan, who followed in Dayna’s mum’s footsteps and became foster carers.

Next week, we will feature more sons and daughters who have grown up as intrinsic parts of their own families who foster.

For more information about fostering visit foster4.co.uk or call 01925 444100.

You can also email fosteringrecruitment@warrington.gov.uk or use @foster4cheshire on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Bridge to light up in bid to inspire next generation of foster carers

Northwich Guardian: The Mersey Gateway Bridge illuminated orangeThe Mersey Gateway Bridge illuminated orange

Foster4 will be lighting up The Mersey Gateway Bridge tomorrow, Friday, October 1 to celebrate the contribution sons and daughters make to family life.

The bridge, which links Runcorn and Widnes, will be illuminated orange, making it visible across Cheshire, Merseyside and beyond.

The initiative has been adopted by Foster4 over the past few years and continues to be a key event in their promotional calendar.

A spokesperson for Foster4 said: “It serves as a prominent, annual acknowledgement to the hundreds of children and young people that make up the Foster4 family.

“It aims to inspire the next generation of carers by showing parents just how highly we value foster carers’ own children as well as their needs, wishes and feelings.”