October is national sons and daughters month – the perfect opportunity to celebrate the children of foster carers in Bolton.

The annual campaign by The Fostering Network is aimed at honouring the vital contribution which birth children and young people make to foster care families.

Each October, fostering services across the UK run events and activities to recognise and reward children and young people for the important role they play in welcoming fostered children into their home.

This month, the young people will be thanked for all their contributions and dedication, especially their valuable help and friendship.

The team at Foster Bolton is determined to ensure that foster carers’ own birth children always feel supported, which then leads to a positive experience for the fostered child as well as the carer and their own children.

They believe that the sons and daughters of foster carers are crucial to the success of each individual placement and the youngsters are essential in promoting positive outcomes for children in foster care.

During the assessment process for foster carers, social workers liaise closely with the whole family unit using activities and games to help parents and children understand what is expected of them when someone new arrives in their home.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “Speaking to everyone in the family helps people understand the needs of the children and how they might need to adapt their lives to accommodate them.

“This helps to manage expectations and helps families provide the best welcome they can to any child in need of a safe place to live.”

Most sons and daughters of foster carers are happy being part of a foster family but with high expectations there can often be challenges to overcome.

Some sons and daughters go on to become foster carers themselves and next week, we will feature Darren and his wife Rebecca who have been fostering with Bolton Council since 2004.

Darren’s parents are foster carers and Darren grew up in a fostering household, welcoming looked after children and young people into his family home.

If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a foster carer, let the team support you.

For more information visit www.bolton.gov.uk/fostering, email fostering@bolton.gov.uk or call 0800 107 1564.

Support groups for foster carers and their children

The fostering team at Bolton Council runs regular support groups for all their carers as well as for their own children.

When you become part of a foster family you are never on your own and you will continue to receive help, advice and guidance for as long as you need it.

Each carer has their own supervising social worker who will visit them every 4-6 weeks, plus there are also regular meetings for carers of different age groups e.g. for people who look after babies and children aged from birth up to 10, and a group for carers of youngsters over the age of 10.

There is also an Asian carers group as well as a social group for male carers with most sessions being held in local community hubs.

Foster carers own children are often treated to days out and have included trips to Smithills Farm or evenings out bowling or playing crazy golf.

The aim of the groups is to encourage carers and their children to meet socially and talk openly about their role while sharing experiences and there is always someone available to listen or answer any queries.