Crofty goes in to bat for more Trafford foster carers

Lancashire cricket captain Steven Croft is hoping to increase awareness of the need for more foster carers across the Trafford area.

He was on the Emirates Old Trafford pitch to draw attention to the national Foster Care Fortnight which starts on May 16^th-29^th and to launch the ‘’Snap The Bag”  photographic competition, which will run all Summer.

During the ”Snap The Bag” campaign Trafford Council will distribute special bags to residents, with the slogan ‘’Be there for the next generation..”

The bags will be a focal point to remind people who was there for them, when they were growing up.

And there will be special prizes for people who take photographs of the bags in unusual places.

In the North West alone, around 1300 foster care families are needed to ensure children and young people in need of a loving home can be given one.

Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Michael Hyman says the Council wants people to think about the plight of children who haven’t got someone who cares for them.

“Sadly for many reasons and though no fault of their own, there are children and young people in Trafford who find they need to be looked after, sometimes just for a short time, away from their family home.

‘’ We work hard to ensure we have the best possible, loving, caring foster care families available to take them in during this extremely difficult time in their lives, but we always need more people to come forward.

The bags will be available at two local fostering information events during Foster Care Fortnight. The first is at Sainsbury’s on Golden Way, Urmston on Thursday 19 May 2016.

And on May 20^th it is being held on a canal boat moored outside the Kings Ransom Pub, Britannia Road, Sale. Both events will be open from 10am to 4pm and staff will be  handing out the bags, and also talking to people about fostering,  and what it takes to become foster carers.

There will opportunities for people to pick up the bags throughout Summer, as the Council will be hosting events across Trafford. These include:

Thursday 2 June 2016 – Altrincham Football Club, Moss Lane (4pm-7pm)

Monday 18 July, Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, (4pm-7.30pm)

People can post or Tweet their pictures to the ”Snap the Bag” competition on Trafford Council’s Facebook page and Twitter Feed @TraffordCouncil to win prizes, including a cricket bat signed by Lancashire Cricket Club and a signed Altrincham Football club shirt.

Further details about fostering are available on the Council’s website, www.trafford.gov.uk/fostering, or phone 0161 912 3558.