Maidenhead & Windsor

It's the familiar call of the "empty nest" brigade – a house that's too quiet now that teenagers have gone off to university or moved permanently away from home.

It's a call that's not gone unnoticed by the Maidenhead Royal Borough's fostering, adoption and respite care service – who are now for the first time directly challenging those empty nesters to join the ranks of local foster carers.

In an innovative move to target this new group of potential carers, members of the fostering and adoption team are this month joining forces with Bracknell Forest and Wokingham District councils to launch a high-profile poster campaign to raise awareness of the need for more carers.

Colourful posters showing young men and women gazing directly and asking the question "Miss the pitter-patter of huge feet? Be a foster carer" will soon be displayed in libraries and leisure centres around the borough, as well as in the customer service centres in the Town Hall, Maidenhead and York House, Windsor.

The hard-hitting posters tell the reader "You can do it", highlighting the needs of young men and women struggling to cope with troubles at home as well as the physical, mental, hormonal and emotional changes they experience during adolescence.

Cllr Kathy Newbound, lead member for Maidenhead children's services, welcomed the campaign. She said: "There is a constant need across the country for foster carers to look after older children. Empty nesters whose children have gone to university or moved away from home are ideally 'qualified' to provide many of the skills and experiences needed to give young people a loving and supportive environment in which they can thrive.

"All our foster carers play a vital role in the temporary care of some of our most vulnerable youngsters – and for this particular group of potential carers the challenge could prove especially rewarding in helping to channel their own 'empty' feelings in a really worthwhile direction.

"By working together with the other unitary authorities we will not only be able to share information but work together to tackle the ongoing need for foster carers."

Maidenhead Foster carers are needed to provide both short and long-term fostering – from looking after a child for a few weeks while arrangements are being made for the child to return to their own home, to providing a safe and supportive environment for children who cannot live at home until the child is 18 years old.

For further information about fostering in general – and the empty nest campaign in particular – contact Ros Whittaker, team manager, fostering and adoption team, on 01628 683138.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead