This is a myth – we need more carers from a greater diversity of faiths and ethnic groups. Can you foster? Can you change lives? Take our quick survey.
Children that come into care of the local authority are radically and ethnically diverse. The children in care reflect the diversity of the population of the nation as a whole.
The role of fostering requires all types of carers to reflect the types of children and young people who need an environment of safety and nurturing when they can’t live with their birth families.
Fostering as a whole require more foster carers from a greater variety of ethnicities to help promote the ethnicity and culture of all the children and young people in care of the local authority.
All ethnicities have their own specific skills, knowledge and life experiences to bring to the role of fostering and whereas good foster carers can mimic other cultures and promote their ethnicity, it is more natural and more comforting for that role to be carried out by carers that are of the same ethnicity as the children and young people they are looking after.
Foster carers are unique people that often look after children of different heritages to their own and will look after more than one child of a different background to their own during their vocation as a foster carer. Due to the nature of the people that make good foster carers every effort is made to respect and promote the ethnicity and beliefs of the children that come into care but it is often the case that their needs would be better met when placed with foster carers of the same ethnicity or faith.
The case for increasing the recruitment from as diverse a spectrum as possible is very much highlighted from the Muslim community in the U.K. Some local authorities have had the view to place Muslim children into non-Muslim foster placements has helped to integrate better into British lifestyle but at what cost to the child. Muslim foster carers would be able to protect the child’s culture and identity as well as not only the integration into British lifestyle but the influence on British lifestyle.
Sabbir shares his reasons why he became a foster carer.
My dear father who died in 2006 lost his mother just after he was born. He lost his father too at the age of 11. He was then fostered by friends and family.
My father would always say that all children are special and that we should be kind to all children and take the opportunity to foster if and when the situation presented itself.
During our fostering career we have come across so many children that have had their rights to religion neglected or not sufficiently met. We have been taught by our children that they themselves are eager to learn about their religion; however there is a national shortage of Muslim foster carers. The fostering community strives to always try to promote, propagate and further enhance a child’s religious and cultural beliefs.
This being said, however practising Muslim carers are the ideal people to truly understand and implement a Muslim child’s religious needs. We have had children come to us and thank us for teaching them what Islam truly is. These foster children are craving for a loving, caring family. Love and care doesn’t just mean feeding, clothing, safeguarding and ensuring their educational needs are met. It also means looking after their faith.
As Muslims we have a duty of care and responsibility towards the next generation. There are so many Muslim children in the UK that need Muslim foster carers. Our beloved prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was also an orphan and had been fostered.
As Muslims we are taught to have extreme love for our prophet and follow his ways. One way we can show our love and devotion to our prophet is by fostering.
Can you foster? Can you change lives?
There is a constant need for foster carers with a shortfall of around 9,000 in this year alone.
Don’t delay; start the process today. Find out if you fit the criteria to foster by completing our quick online survey. (only 11 tick box questions)
Call Fosterline in confidence to find out more about becoming a foster carer on 0800 040 7675. Qualified Fosterline Advisers are available 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.