As the festive period gets under way, Peterborough City Council are asking people to open up their homes and hearts and make next Christmas a family Christmas for a child in care.
Across the East of England there are 7,000 children in care. An additional classroom of children come into care every week. Christmas can be a challenging time for children and young people who cannot safely live at home.
Foster carers Diane and Brian have been fostering for 18 years. They first considered doing it during Christmas 2006 when their daughter was only six and had asked if she could have a sibling.
Diane said: “A couple of weeks later at the Christmas pantomime we watched our daughter taking in every moment and her face lit up with excitement, screaming, shouting and laughing. I then started thinking about the children that would not experience this or even have a family.
“We had thought about fostering some years before but hadn't done anything about it. The next day as I was Christmas shopping on the bus, I noticed a sign for fostering and something just twigged.”
Diane had her daughter a little later in life so didn’t feel having another child was an option for them. However, Diane felt that as a family they did have a good home to offer to other children.
She added: “When I got home, I spoke to Brian and my daughter about it, and we agreed to make the call. We planned on just fostering until Emma went to secondary school but that went into college and before you know it, she had moved out and had children of her own.”
A fostering assessment takes around 16 weeks to complete, and it prepares you for the fostering role which is extremely rewarding.
Diane added: “We have cared for many fostered children and seen their faces light up over the years at pantomimes and particularly when Santa has arrived.
“We've taken them on their first holidays and helped support them at school. We have been able to change a child's life for the better and guide them towards a better future.
“Who could ask for a better feeling than that. We've had laughter and tears, but we wouldn't change a day. We think if it hadn't been for those words from our daughter then we would have missed out on this perfect opportunity to foster.”
Councillor Katy Cole, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Peterborough City Council, said: "Christmas is a time for giving, for sharing love and warmth with those who need it most. Fostering is an incredible way to make a lasting difference in a child's life, offering them stability, care, and the chance to experience a loving family home.
“But it’s not just about providing for one child, it’s about creating a fostering family. These families offer a sense of belonging, consistency, and support, helping children thrive in a loving environment. By opening your heart and home, you provide more than just shelter you provide hope, security, and the chance for a brighter future.
“I urge the community to consider fostering because every child deserves a place to feel loved and supported, especially during the holidays."
Peterborough City Council has 148 children in need of care but only 81 fostering families working with our Fostering service. We urgently need more foster carers to join us so that every child in care can live in a family home.
Foster carers come from all walks of life. Foster carers can have their own children living at home, can have pets, own or rent their homes, work full-time or part-time, or foster full time. As long as you are over 21, there is no upper age limit. Foster carers can be single or couples and have children.
Fostering for your council helps your local children’s services to keep children rooted in their community, close to their friends and family. Councils are at the heart of children’s social services, with great support networks and in-depth training, all delivered locally to you.
If you’re interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer, read more about what is involved at fosterwithpeterborough.org.uk or call us on 01733 868686.