Understand
Manchester couple back national fostering recruitment drive
Overview
A couple from Hyde, Greater Manchester, who have been foster carers for three years, are supporting a new government recruitment campaign aimed at creating 10,000 new foster places by 2029. Amy and James Vernon, who started with respite care before taking on long-term care for two teenage girls, are encouraging others not to talk themselves out of fostering.
Key points
- Amy and James Vernon from Hyde have been foster carers for three years, starting with respite care before becoming long-term parents to two teenage girls.
- The couple are backing a Department for Education recruitment campaign aiming to create 10,000 new foster places by 2029.
- Government figures show approved foster carers have fallen by 12% since 2019 while the number of children needing care has risen.
- Polling suggests 66% of people believe they could be good foster carers if practical barriers were removed.
- Ministers want to highlight flexible options such as weekend and respite care to encourage more people to apply.