Somerset Care Leavers are appealing to Taunton people to consider using their spare room to help a vulnerable teenager.
Young people leaving care have released a series of ‘Get to Know Us’ videos in a bid to break down stereotypes on teenagers and highlight the urgent need to recruit more ‘Stepping Stones’ carers.
These are people who support young people age 16 and over with the challenges they face as care leavers. They help them make the step into independent adulthood and gain crucial life skills and experience.
Linda has been a Stepping Stones carer for many years now, partly with her husband and then as a single carer after he died.
She shares with Tone News how great it feels to help Annabel and all the other vulnerable young people she has housed and mentored: “I really enjoy it. The Stepping Stones team are so good at matching the right young people with the right carer and they’re very supportive. Some placements have worked so well for us we’ve had them with us well into their twenties. We still get Christmas cards and photos of the families they went on to have.’”
Charlotte had a tough childhood and has shared how the dedication of her Stepping Stones carer Jo changed her life: “She is such a lovely person. I really like my room and knowing I always have a safety net to go back to has really helped me start studying again and gain work experience.”
Stepping Stones placements are relatively short; anything from a few months to a couple of years. Stepping Stones carers receive a weekly allowance and the same tax exemptions and relief as foster carers, they can continue to work alongside their caring role.
If you are interested, we would love to hear from you. For more information please call 0800 5879900 or visit the Fostering in Somerset website.
