North Yorkshire: Council extends foster care cash incentive scheme

North Yorkshire Council said all foster carers are "properly supported"

A cash incentive scheme to encourage foster carers in North Yorkshire has been extended until December.

It offers newly approved carers a £500 payment for providing a "fresh start" for young people.

North Yorkshire Council said the county has 300 active fostering households, but with more children coming into care there is a national shortage of carers.

The golden hello scheme is run by the council's not-for-profit fostering service, Fostering North Yorkshire.

Assistant director for children and families, Mel Hutchinson, said: "We would encourage anyone who has been thinking of fostering to enquire now and take advantage of the £500 golden hello payment for newly approved foster carers."

Tony Collins OBE and his wife Julia started fostering four years ago and the couple, who live in Harrogate, have cared for eight children since then.

"Fostering is something we wanted to do and had been thinking about for a while," the father-of-four said.

"My wife had recently retired and we had previously gone through the adoption process for one of our daughters, so we wanted to provide a nurturing family environment for children who may have experienced neglect and trauma."

Tony Collins said fostering was a rewarding experience

He said that the process was "thorough but very straightforward" and he learned that a number of children fostered were there for emergency respite.

Mr Collins added: "With fostering there are many challenges, however there are many highlights too and the rewards the fostered children give are everything you could wish for."

To those considering fostering, he said to "gather lots of information and talk to people who are currently fostering".

He said it was a rewarding experience and offered an opportunity to make "a significance difference" in a young person's life.

"There is no better feeling than watching a child thrive and flourish so if you are thinking about fostering, go for it, but please do your research as to what it entails," he said.

Ms Hutchinson said she wanted to thank all their existing carers who "open their home to children when they need it the most".

"Our foster carers are there day in, day out giving our local children a loving home and offering them support and guidance.

"Our foster carers are very much appreciated, and we are fully committed to ensuring our foster carers are properly supported and rewarded."