4 minute read
FOSTER WITH BRIGHTON & HOVE
Two-thirds of councils in England have a shortage of Black and mixed-race foster carers. In Brighton & Hove, as more children from ethnic backgrounds come into care, the Council are urging people from Black and mixed-race communities to consider becoming foster carers. Identity is important for all children but it is particularly crucial for Black and mixed-race children placed in foster care to grow up understanding their roots and their culture as well as the day to day care of skin and hair.
Black and mixed- race foster carers are often well placed to help foster children from the same background, as they can help children to develop a sense of pride and achievement and to help them make better sense of their history and identity and the importance of representation.
The Brighton & Hove City Council fostering team feel privileged to have continued to meet and work with Black and mixed race people in the community, from those who own and run local shops and businesses, to those who meet and connect in community space, to mentors, musicians, entrepreneurs, leaders, young people and foster carers. The team welcome invitations to spaces where they can talk about what Black and mixed race children in care need and find ways to help spread the message about fostering. This work and building of relationships is key to ensuring that meaningful, authentic and consistent change and impact is possible for children in care as well as for the foster carers who care for them.
Melody Duhaney, Certified Personal Trainer & Nutritionist, provides Black and Multi-heritage Hair & Skin Care workshops for Brighton & Hove foster carers. She says "Black hair plays a significant role in cultural identity and self-esteem, going beyond mere grooming. For children in care, particularly those from varied backgrounds. Many of these Children find themselves in situations where their cultural needs may not always be prioritised or fully understood. In light of this, Brighton has taken a commendable step by offering workshops that ensure every child in their care, irrespective of background, receives the proper attention they deserve. These workshops are aimed at educating staff and carers about these unique needs. Kudos to Brighton and Hove for this important initiative"!
Cathy Seiderer, the council’s Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Manager, saysk: “We thank those in the community who come along to spaces to talk about fostering with us. We sit in these spaces wanting to make sure we are listening and then taking action. We have our critical friends who are on this journey with us for our children in care and we appreciate this.”
Young people in care have said what is important to them. They have shared stories and advised what works and what hasn’t. That is their story and that’s important. These experiences and their request to have more representation is a driving force to get this right.
Cathy says “we are so pleased to have connected with Rachel and her team doing great work at Black Foster Carers Alliance (BFCA) and we will continue to share and encourage staff and carers to attend her training to support our children in care. We are excited to continue this journey and also find out other ways, of by working with BFCA and how we cab recruit more Black foster carers.
One of the key areas that we are reminded of is how important it is for us to bust myths. That we need to make it more obvious that you can be single and foster, that you don’t have to own your own home, that you don’t need to have had your own children, that you can work and foster.”
People rule themselves out for various reasons but foster carers often say “just ask the question and find out more….don’t rule yourself out!”
Cathy and her team are looking forward to welcoming new foster carers on a journey to foster, or to support others to foster. Children need us to all play a part and if fostering isn’t something that is possible for you, please do what you can to spread the word.
