Ever considered fostering?

Essex County Council is holding four events across the county where members of the public can meet the fostering recruitment team and experienced foster carers and find out what it is really like to foster.

These are being held at:

• 11am, Saturday 18 January, at County Hotel, Rainsford Road, Chelmsford, CM1 2PZ

• 11am, Saturday 25 January, at Holiday Inn, Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, SS14 3DG

• 6.30pm, Wednesday 29 January, at Essex House, Colchester Business Park, 200 The Crescent, CO4 9YQ

• 11am, Saturday 1 February, at Latton Bush Centre, Southern Way, Harlow, CM18 7BL

Fostering for Essex County Council helps to ensure that children are placed locally and can remain close to their school, friends and family.

Foster carers have access to support they need locally including training, networking and advice.

The County Council is particularly keen to hear from carers who are willing to consider fostering siblings, teenagers and children with disabilities as there is a particular shortage of carers for these groups of children. 


Foster carers come from all walks of life – carers can be single, married, straight, gay, homeowners or renting a property and there is no upper age bracket. Unless fostering children aged under two, potential carers will need a spare bedroom to be able to care for a child in their home and will need to be available before and after school and during the school holidays.

All foster carers receive full training, on-going support and a generous package of allowances and fees and are always part of a team of professionals working for the County Council to support children and families.

Councillor Dick Madden, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Families and Children, said: “If you’ve been thinking about fostering then call in to one of our events for an informal chat and to meet some of our existing carers.”