AN INDEPENDENT charity providing foster care across the Midlands and the North East of England has established its first headquarters in Worcestershire.

The Children’s Family Trust (CFT), which has provided foster care to 300 children in the past 10 years, has established its HQ in Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove.

The base will be used to give children and families a safe environment to meet with their birth parents.

David Homer, head of finance at The Children’s Family Trust, said: “The new head office means that we can now provide better facilities for our staff, carers and children. We’ve been able to use the additional space for foster carer training, meetings and recruitment panels.”

The trust has expanded its team since buying the new office and has recruited a principal social worker, a supporting social worker and an administration apprentice for the West Midlands Region.

The charity bought the office after securing a six-figure commercial mortgage from HSBC, and has since updated its five-year business plan to increase the number of foster carers and children placed within the trust. It also plans to set up another office in the West Midlands by 2020.

Andrew Willett, HSBC’s area director for business banking in the South West Midlands, said: “The Children’s Family Trust is an ambitious charity with plans to invest for further growth.

“This funding has enabled them to expand their team and provide quality facilities for their staff, carers and children. We look forward to working with the charity to expand its reach in the West Midlands and beyond.”

Mr Homer added: “Nationally there remains a big shortage of foster carers and we are always on the look-out for prospective foster carers. We strive to provide stable and high quality placements for each individual child.”

For information on becoming a foster parent, contact The Children’s Family Trust on 0300 111 1945.

• The Children’s Family Trust is a children’s charity and Independent Foster Agency which was established in 1945. Founded by Paul Field, historically its intention was to provide ‘Family for Life’ placements to children and young people who could no longer reside with birth families. ‘Family for Life’ placements are unique to the CFT and are those where t charity supports the fostered child or young person throughout their life, often into adulthood.

• CFT works with over 100 local authorities and is now supporting more foster carers and children than ever before.

• The majority of the funding is received as a result of the services provided to local authorities. A smaller amount of income is received from charitable donations and legacies. The CFT provides funding for additional services including education support and therapeutic services. Cash is also set aside every year to help support young people who have reached 18 and beyond needing financial support to establish themselves within the community and workplace. This might include driving lessons, home furnishings and educational fees etc.