SINCE the launch of a campaign in May to recruit more foster carers in Hillingdon, the council has received 105 inquiries, a 250% increase compared to the same period last year.  

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.

However, faced with a national foster carer shortage, Hillingdon is looking to recruit its own dedicated carers.  

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.  

“Though 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.  

“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.”

Cllr Susan O'Brien, Cabinet Member for Education and Families, said: "Being a foster carer is a hugely rewarding and fulfilling opportunity, but we recognise this does have a financial impact on those selfless individuals who want to offer their support.

“That’s why we have been able to provide this fantastic new payment and benefits package to encourage more people to come forward.”  

Find out more on fostering at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/fostering