The support hub launch coincides with new research on behalf of Foster with North East that found almost half (44%) of people surveyed in the region believe incorrectly you need to be married, have children (43%) or be in a full-time job (38%) to be considered as a foster carer. An additional 38% think you need to earn over a certain amount of money per year to qualify to be a foster carer, with 40% believing carers must have a minimum annual salary of £25,000; all of which are not determining factors for foster carer approvals.
Further to this, the survey - which unearths insights into fostering perceptions and readiness - also found that people believe it takes more than two times longer (13 months) to be approved as a foster carer when, in reality, it can take less than six months. The new support hub will directly address such misconceptions to those interested in fostering. The data disclosed that 55% of respondents have a spare room in their homes, and yet, 62% have never considered fostering.
