We have become a Fostering Friendly employer

We have signed up to North Lincolnshire Council’s Fostering Friendly Scheme, and are raising awareness of the benefits, as part of Private Fostering Awareness week.

Taking place between 25 September-1 October 2023, the week is designed to challenge misconceptions about fostering and break down barriers, enabling any person who wishes to become a foster carer to be able to do so.

This includes becoming a short breaks foster carer, long term foster carer or supported lodgings host.

North Lincolnshire Council’s Fostering Friendly Scheme helps employers (like us) to support and recognise the roles of their employees who foster.

Our colleagues can benefit from the enhancement of support and make use of their agile framework to provide the best work and life balance, along with a family leave support.   

Furthermore, the Fostering Friendly Scheme is also an opportunity for local businesses to support and champion fostering in our community, raising awareness in how fostering transforms lives.

Foster caring is vital, as nearly 70,000 children live with foster families across the UK each day. This is nearly three-quarters of the total children in care, and each year thousands of new foster families are needed, to keep up with demand.

Helen Pearce, People & Culture Business Partner here at Ongo said: “Providing children with a safe and secure environment is so important, and that’s what foster carers do.

“We want to support our colleagues who foster as much as possible and help to spread awareness throughout our local community, so we are delighted to be a member of the Fostering Friendly Scheme.”

For more information about fostering, visit the North Lincolnshire Council website (www.northlincs.gov.uk/fostering), email fostering@northlincs.gov.uk or call 01724 297024.