15/9/2005 - The hardest job can be the most rewarding : Cumbria County Council

A campaign to recruit more specialist foster carers to look after teenagers in difficulty will be launched on Monday by Cumbria County Council.

The theme this year is; 'This may be the hardest job you will ever do - but it may also be the most rewarding.

The launch will take place in the Old Court Room at the Courts in Carlisle on Monday 19th September at 11am. A panel of experienced specialist foster carers will talk at the launch about their experiences and why they continue to care for needy youngsters.

Specialist foster carers are needed to look after young people between 13 and 17 years old to provide them with quality care, attention, security and stability. Some placements are short term, others are required until the young person is ready to move on independently. Some young people will not have the support of their own family and may have been abused or rejected. Some may have been in trouble with the Police. They all need understanding, time and patience.

County councillor John Collier, Chairman of Cumbria County Council will officially launch the event. He said:

"Being a parent can be a hard job. But caring for teenagers who have already been let down by adults for most of their lives can be even harder. We desperately need more people to come forward and consider becoming a specialist foster carer. There are too many teenagers being cared for outside the county and we would like to be able to offer these teenagers a placement in Cumbria to be near their families and friends. We hope that this campaign will raise awareness of the need for more carers. These teenagers really need the help and support of a loving family. It may be the hardest job you will do, but it will be the most rewarding."

Panel member Marion Hardy is from Barrow-in-Furness and has been a specialist foster carer for nearly 3 years. She said:

"When you have a very distressed child sitting on your sofa, and in six months time that same child is sitting on the same sofa chatting with you and laughing and you see the difference, that's why I love being a specialist foster carer. Giving these children a place to live where there is love and support gives them an opportunity to grow and become themselves. They go from being a very frightened and confused child to a confident, positive young man or woman.

"However I couldn't do it without the support from the county council's family placement team. There is always someone on the end of the phone who can give you some sound advice when things get tough. I've had many jobs during my life, and this has to be the most interesting and rewarding."

Specialist foster carers can earn up to £240 per week in addition to the allowance to cover the costs of caring for the young person. Anyone wanting to find out more should contact their local family placement team on: