Hillingdon Council sees unprecedented interest in its unique fostering offer

In the first month alone, the council saw a 275% increase in the number of enquiries.  

Offering the most competitive package in London, foster carers in Hillingdon can now earn up to £1,500 per week and receive a 25 per cent reduction in council tax when looking after a child in care.  

This also includes £1,000 off utility bills, a winter fuel allowance and a family Platinum Merlin pass. This equates to an annual salary of up to £72,000.  

There are currently 347 children in the council's care, but faced with a national foster carer shortage, the council is campaigning to recruit its own dedicated carers to provide a loving, stable home for a child in need.  

Rachel Slattery, 42, from Hillingdon, and her husband Damian, 45, began fostering a newborn baby last year.  

Rachel said: "I was given so much support and my social worker was great, but I was also buddied up with another local foster carer which was really helpful. I've been on lots of training courses, mostly online, which has been beneficial, and I've learnt new skills.  

"The new offer for foster carers is brilliant. Although I don't see this as a job, at the end of the day we've now got an extra mouth to feed, and babies need a lot of things like nappies and formula. It all adds up. Before we fostered, if the house was cold in the winter, then we'd just put another jumper on, but you can't do that with a little newborn baby. So, the winter fuel allowance and money off bills has been so useful.  

"I treat this child as if he were my own, and the payments have allowed me to buy a nice pushchair and car seat for him. We also love the Merlin pass, as it allows us to do so much more together with family days out to new places. Fostering is the best thing we've ever done as a family. It has made us better people, and we're a closer family because of it. There are so many children out there who need a loving home."  

Cllr Susan O'Brien, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Education and Families, said: "Being a foster carer is a hugely rewarding and fulfilling opportunity to give a home to a child who needs it, work in a role where you can directly change the life of a child or young person, and give back to the community.  

"But we recognise that this does have a financial impact on those selfless individuals who want to offer their support. That's why we're delighted we have been able to provide this fantastic new payment and benefits package to our foster carers which we hope will encourage more people to come forward and find out more about fostering in the borough."  

Find out more about the council's fostering service by visiting www.hillingdon.gov.uk/fostering  

Watch the council's video of Rachel and Damian's experience fostering with Hillingdon Council here.