A father-of-three who recently became a foster carer is urging other families to help make a difference to a child’s life.
Rasub Afzal, 48, says that there is a lack of Asian families in Teesside who are willing to take on the role but hopes that this could be changed in the future.
Offical statistics show that three of the 108 foster families across Middlebrough are British Asian although council officials said this does not currently pose any problems.
But taxi driver Rusub does not share their opinion.
“There is an obvious lack of Asian foster carers in Middlesbrough,” he said.
“The needs of Asian children, especially the culture difference is huge and these needs are not being met.
“Being a foster parent is not easy, but these children need to be looked after and cared for.”
All three of Rasub’s children have made a success of their lives, which is partly what prompted him and his wife, Shameem, 48, to enroll on a fostering course two years ago.
Since completing the course, the couple have helped look after two children, one of Asian origin, and Rasub believes that it is not just the foster children who can benefit from being looked after by a foster family.
He said: “When one of the girls left us, it made my children really appreciate what they had.
“It made me and my wife appreciate what we had, in fact it made everyone appreciate everything.”
Rasub finds it hard to understand why there is a lack of Asian families willing to foster a child.
“Why are Asian families not fostering?” said Rasub.
“It is encrypted in our faith to look after children and all other religions encourage it as well.
“There is a shortage of foster carers in the region full stop, but especially among the Asian community and this needs to change.”
A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council said: “At the present time our demand for placements of Asian heritage is being met from within the current cohort of foster carers.
“We currently have three British Asian foster care families out of 108 foster care families.
“We are always on the look-out to recruit new foster carers from any part of our community, and would certainly encourage members of the Asian community and other groups to consider fostering for Middlesbrough Council.”
For more details about fostering:
Contact Stockton Council’s fostering team on 01642 526218 or email: child.placement@stockton.gov.uk
Request an information pack from the Fostering section on Middlesbrough Council’s website http://ift.tt/1kW4ztd
Or ring Redcar and Cleveland Council’s family information service free telephone number on 0800 0738800.
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