Stockport Council is encouraging more local residents to consider becoming foster carers.

Cllr Wendy Meikle, cabinet member for children, families and education, said there was an 'urgent' need for carers at the moment.

A Council spokesperson added that they were looking for "kind-hearted, community-minded people to provide loving, nurturing homes for local children who desperately need one".

To encourage more people to consider the role, the Council has put up banners in parks across the borough, from Marple to Edgeley.

Children can be fostered either with the local authority (LA) - Stockport Council in this case - or through an independent fostering agency (IFA). 

Stockport Council has put banners around the borough encouraging people to consider fostering (Image - Stockport Council)

Recent figures from Ofsted show that the number of mainstream LA fostering households has been on the decline since 2019. The number of foster care households is shrinking, while the care population is growing. 

Considering reasons for this decline, Ofsted picked out 'inadequate financial renumeration', and 'lack of respect for the role'.

Councillor Wendy Meikle said: "We urgently need more foster carers here in Stockport to ensure children can stay close to their communities and thrive in loving family homes.

"Our parks are a great place where our local residents enjoy being outdoors, playing sports and having fun.

"We're hoping some of these local residents who visit the parks will see our banners and consider how they could be the one to help make a real difference to a child's life by becoming a foster carer."

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