Boris Johnson meets Ryancare Fostering
23 May 2011
Ryancare was really proud this week to be able to meet with Boris Johnson, who presented our foster carer, Chanel Lee, with an Outstanding achievment award.
With the capital's young people being hardest hit by a lack of foster carers, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson is urging more Londoners to come forward to provide youngsters with the safe and supportive home environments they need while they are unable to live with their own families.
There is a shortage of at least 10,000 foster carers across the UK, including 2,000 needed in London. At the same time more and more children are entering the care system. The situation is particularly bad in London, especially for teenagers, according to a new survey from the Fostering Network, which reveals that 100 per cent of fostering services in London have a shortage of foster families for that age group.
Ryancare Fostering was noted during the presentation in particular reference to Chanel Lee, a foster carer in her first year. Over this time, Chanel has worked particularly well with young parents and their children who have been brought into the care system.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: 'It is an appalling situation, and a sad one, that London's children are missing out on the foster homes they need. Childhood and our teenage years should be about making friends, learning, exploration and discovery, not worrying about our home life. Come on London, now is the time to care. Foster carers can come from all walks of life and cover a very broad age range. There must be thousands of people across the capital that could be foster carers and provide the security and stability that young people, especially teenagers, need.'