Lyttle hosts Stormont event highlighting the importance of fostering

Alliance OFMDFM spokesperson and Chair of the Assembly Group on Children & Young People, Chris Lyttle MLA has hosted an event in Stormont on behalf of Kindercare Fostering. The event highlighted the importance of fostering and the relaunch of Kindercare Fostering as a not for profit organisation. Chris is pictured with Kelly-Louise McKinney, who spoke of her experiences of being fostered as a child.

Chris Lyttle MLA said: “Fostering is increasingly important in Northern Ireland with 75% of all looked after children placed in a foster family. The priority of ‘Transforming Your Care’ is that family based placements should be used where possible when children can no longer live with their own family.

“Yet this creates increasing demand for foster carers at a time when we have more children coming into care. Last year we needed two new foster carers every week simply to meet demand and we know the number of children coming into care have increased again this year.

“It is important to celebrate the work of organisations like Kindercare and that we place a high value on foster carers as one of the most important resources in transforming children’s lives.”

ENDS