Fostering Hampshire Children are proud to be working in partnership with the Hampshire Cultural Trust in our recruitment campaign #OpenYourDoor.
We urgently need more foster carers to provide homes for Hampshire children, from babies through to teenagers, asylum seekers, sibling groups and children with additional needs or disabilities. It is equally important that we continue to do all we can to support our current foster carers in their hugely important role, and advocate for young people currently in care, nurturing their physical and mental well-being, strengthening their identity, and supporting them on their journey.
Over the next 12 months, Fostering Hampshire Children and the Hampshire Cultural Trust hope to inspire the children of foster families to engage in a number of artist-led workshops and participate in exhibitions across Hampshire.
With 23 venues across the county, Hampshire Cultural Trust run a variety of workshops, classes, events, and projects for both young and old, in schools and communities, with a particular emphasis on reaching people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged and would not normally be able to access arts and culture.
The partnership project entitled ‘Be the Inspiration’ hopes to encourage young people within foster families to develop new skills, explore their creativity and take time to express themselves to produce a collection of work for display across the county in 2023.
Cat Cooke, Community Programmes Manager at the Hampshire Cultural Trust says: “It is hoped that the young people will connect with the projects and seek inspiration from a variety of sources, to include the area in which they live, their journey so far and their aspirations in life, both in care and beyond. In doing so, Hampshire Cultural Trust aspire to create a series of positive stories bringing the young people’s voice into the exhibitions.”
Their safeguarding will remain paramount, but we want to offer the young people the freedom to look inward, experience the arts and support their creative journeys. The opportunity for young people to engage in a workshop and produce something beautiful to be showcased and celebrated at an exhibition cannot be underestimated. The impact on their pride, well-being and sense of identity is truly invaluable.
This partnership puts the young people at the very heart of this campaign – by giving them a voice.
From April 2023, the exhibitions will take place throughout 2023 across Hampshire Cultural Trust community venues to include museums and galleries in Alton, Andover, Fareham and the New Forest, with a number of smaller exhibitions displayed throughout libraries and community centres. Fostering Hampshire Children and Hampshire Cultural Trust hope to raise awareness of fostering and the stories of the young people in care and inspire the residents of Hampshire to consider becoming foster carers who can offer a home to children in care. Fostering Hampshire Children will be holding pop up stands at the exhibition venues for those who wish to come and chat to a member of the recruitment team. The recruitment team can answer any questions about fostering, how to become a foster carer, and beyond.
Fostering Hampshire Children are working in partnership with several charities, organisations, businesses, and communities throughout Hampshire, and we are hugely excited about the collaboration of ideas and celebration of services in support of finding 150 new foster families by the end of 2023. Together, we really can make a difference to the lives of Hampshire’s most vulnerable children.