Why?
Because every fifteen minutes in the UK, a child will come into care.
Many will have suffered neglect or abuse, all will experience trauma and loss. Each one deserves a home where they will be loved, nurtured and enabled to thrive, whether that’s through short-term or long-term foster care, with a new adoptive family, or through supported lodgings.
Because more families are urgently needed
All children and young people should be able to grow up in the family and setting that is right for them. Some may be able to live with friends or family members (which is known as kinship care or private fostering). Many will need a foster family, or will live with a supported lodgings host. Some children will go on to be placed for adoption.
Around 9,300 new foster families are urgently needed to ensure all children and young people can be cared for in the right placement for them.
- In almost half of all placement decisions, social workers have no choice in foster carers at all
- The average age of children entering care has been rising, with around a quarter of young people in care over the age of 16. However, there are limited high-quality options for accommodating these young people.
- According to the most recent figures, over 2,000 children are waiting for adoption
- Around 50% of children have been waiting for more than 18 months
69%
of children in care are in foster care.
Because God calls us to respond.
Throughout the Bible we are reminded of God’s heart for the vulnerable, and particularly those without a family to love and protect them.
"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families."
Psalm 68:5-6
The Bible uses the terms 'fatherless' and 'orphans' to describe children who did not have the stability and protection of a family. In contemporary culture we do not use these terms, but we recognise that children and young people coming into care are also in need of stability and protection.
As God’s children, adopted into His great family, we are called to care for the vulnerable as part of our worship, to defend those unable to defend themselves, and to seek justice on their behalf.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”
James 1:27
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless.”
Isaiah 1:17
Children in care are amongst the most vulnerable people in our society.
They need advocates. They need champions. They need families.
Will you stand with Home for Good and play your part for vulnerable children?
I would like to find out what is
going on in my area