Family friendly Stalybridge Street Fest hosts fostering stalls

Residents visiting the popular Stalybridge Street Fest will now be able to ask questions and learn more about fostering local children and young people.

From April to October, Tameside Council’s Fostering service and local foster carers will host a ‘Let’s Talk Fostering’ stall inside Stalybridge Victoria Market Hall at every Street Fest, which takes place on the second Friday of each month.

The stall will offer a friendly and informal space for residents to ask questions, chat with the fostering team, and discover the different ways they can make a difference in a child’s life.

Fostering is more flexible than people think. It can be shaped around different schedules, lifestyles, and home environments. There are several types of fostering available, including short-term, long-term, specialist, emergency and respite care.

Tameside children and young people are looking for a place to call home, and more foster carers are needed in the borough to help provide safe, stable and loving homes for them.

The council provides full training, with online opportunities to increase flexibility, support and an allowance. Anyone can foster so long as applicants are 21 years or older, have a spare room (unless you’re fostering a child under the age of two) and can offer a safe and loving home.

Alongside the Street Fest stalls, Tameside Council and local foster carers also run regular drop-in sessions both in-person and online. See a full list of ‘Let’s Talk Fostering’ sessions here, more to be announced soon.

Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Children’s and Families, Cllr Teresa Smith said: “Stalybridge Street Fest is a fantastic and vibrant local event, and the perfect place to stop by our ‘Let’s Talk Fostering’ stall while enjoying some great food and drink.

“Our team are always happy to have an informal chat, however long or short you want it to be, there’s no pressure it’s just an opportunity to find out more about fostering.

“Fostering can change a child’s life. So, by opening your heart and home you too could be the difference to local lives.”

Anyone who would like to find out more without attending the session please get in touch by calling 0300 303 0321 or email enquire@fosterforgm.com or visit www.fosterforgm.com/tameside