Girl, 16, joins drive to recruit foster carers

Harriet Hickson, 16, said she had joined forces with Doncaster Council to talk to parents who were thinking about taking in youngsters in need but who may be worried about the effect on their own children.

Miss Hickson’s mother and father Chris and Vicky, who live in Doncaster, have already been involved in the council’s campaign and said they were committed to “local foster families for local children”.

They said their daughter was keen to give a perspective on what birth children think when their parents decide to foster a child.

Miss Hickson said: “I was 12 when my parents started fostering and was initially hesitant but soon overcame this and have welcomed lots of children into our home.

“I am pleased to be part of these recruitment events because I think it’s important that prospective carers can talk to someone about how their own children may feel and the impact it may have on their family.”

Miss Hickson will be taking part in a the council’s next fostering recruitment drop-in event at the Crown Hotel on Tuesday, October 16 between 5pm and 8pm, along with her parents and the council’s fostering team.

Coun Eric Tatton-Kelly, the authority’s children’s services spokesman, said: “I think it is important to provide as much information as possible and having a child’s perspective will add another dimension to the information that is available at our events.

“Our recruitment campaign is going really well this year but it’s essential that we continue to keep up the momentum and encourage people to consider fostering.”