Essential care kits for black and dual heritage children
Our FCA Midlands team has created hair and skin care packs for black and dual heritage children entering care across the Midlands.
The team consulted foster parents and foster children about their experiences to develop the kit, ensuring it includes the right tools and products based on real needs.
The new kits are now ready to go home with the children who need them. Each one contains shampoo and conditioner, combs and brushes, skin butters, and bonnets or durags.
Kate, the registered manager at FCA Midlands, said:
“It can be difficult for a foster child to maintain a sense of personal identity when they come into care, leaving behind family members and belongings and essentially their whole life.
“For black children who don’t have the right hair and skin care, the feeling of not knowing who they are can be even more profound. Hair is such a vital part of black culture and identity, so we’re ensuring that all of our foster children have the right materials, as well as foster parents who are trained in this specifically if they’re not black themselves.”
Latest government statistics on looked-after children show that seven per cent of children in care were black and 10 per cent were of mixed ethnicity — equating to almost 14,000 children and young people. This number is highly likely to have increased since the statistics were released.
Of the 185 children FCA cares for, 10 per cent are black or dual heritage, and 63 per cent of these are in cross-cultural homes. Foster parents of all races need to have the right knowledge and skills to provide care for black hair and skin.
More foster parents are needed throughout the Midlands to provide care for some of the area’s most vulnerable children and young people. A child enters foster care every 20 minutes in the UK.
Kate added:
“Anyone can foster. Regardless of your race, sexuality, or if you’re a homeowner. As long as you have a spare bedroom and lots of love to give, you could make a life-changing difference to a young person. We invite anyone looking for more information to get in touch.”
