Nottinghamshire residents urged to foster refugee children

Nottinghamshire County Council are holding a series of events to give people information about what happens when an under 18 arrives in the UK without their parents or carers.

Organised by the fostering recruitment team, the information evenings will give people the chance to speak to carers who have already fostered refugee children and young people.

Suzie Jones, from Newark, has already fostered three children and calls it “the most rewarding job on Earth.”

She said: “I feel I am part of a team helping young people feel safe, supported, cared for and happy, and it is a role I hope I can do for many years to come.”

At the end of August, there were 37 unaccompanied child asylum seekers in Nottinghamshire.

The majority of these were boys aged 15-16 years old and from Afganistan.

Many of them were also from countries such as Eritrea, Syria, Vietnam and Albania.

Two people die after car drives wrong way on motorway

WEATHER WARNING: Months of heavy snowfall forecast

Nationally there were 1.651 asylum applications from unaccompanied children in the last year - which is 37 per cent increase from the previous year.

Jayne Austin, the council’s service manger for fostering, said: “This is an opportunity for people who feel they can provide a loving, stable home for children who have often faced trauma or loss to make a real difference to their young lives.

“The county council will offer support and training on issues like emotional, practical and cultural needs as well the processes around applying for asylum.”

The information evenings will be held at the following venues:

Worksop Library on Tuesday, October 13, from 10am until 12noon.

Mansfield Central Library on Thursday, October 15, from 7pm to 9pm.

Mansfield Central Library on Tuesday, October 20, from 2pm until 4pm.

Southwell Library on Thursday, October 22, from 2pm until 4pm.

West Bridgford Library & YPC on Thursday, October 22, from 7pm until 9pm

Anybody interested in attending one of the sessions should contact the fostering recruitment team on 01623 520260 or [email protected].