Hungerford Town to host concert in aid of West Berkshire Foster Carers Association on Saturday evening
Hungerford Town Football Club are continuing their support of the West Berkshire Foster Carers Association by holding a fundraising concert at Bulpit Lane on Saturday evening.
Three exciting bands – Siracuse, Beyond The Sons and The Station – will perform at the club, who are raising money and awareness for West Berkshire's fostering service. Doors open at 6:30, with music from 7:30. Entry is free, although all donations are most welcome.
Like many areas in the UK, West Berkshire is in need of foster carers as well as support for fostering. Around 30,000 children enter the UK care system every year and fostering can be a truly life-changing experience, both for foster carers and the children in need of a home.
Thousands of new carers are needed each year and, by supporting West Berkshire Council’s fostering team, the football club are hoping to inspire more people to help.
Hungerford Town committee member and event organiser Cris Bowden has worked tirelessly in aid of fostering in West Berkshire and is hoping to see the town turn out to support a vitally important and worthwhile cause on Saturday night.
"We've been working really hard to make the club part of the community. A lot of people in the club are really passionate about fostering," he said.
"We've been looking at ways we can raise awareness and, hopefully, funds.
"We've got a group called Siracuse, from Cheltenham, who are a really cool indie band just starting to go places. There's a really brilliant local band called Beyond The Sons, who are only teenagers but have really made an impression, especially at such a young age. The Station are a well-established fantastic local band.
"We're hoping we get as many people up the football club as possible. It's a free concert, donations are welcome. Some of the funds raised will be used to put on Christmas parties for children who might not have them normally. Equally, it helps to raise awareness for people who might not come to the football that West Berkshire are struggling for foster carers.
"If we can get one person to show some interest in potentially becoming a foster parent or a short term foster carer, then it's all worthwhile."
The football team's kit for the current season is adorned with the words 'Foster Now' and fostering is a cause particularly close to manager Danny Robinson's heart, with his parents having been foster carers for 18 years.
"No child should be without a home," he said.
"West Berkshire is crying out for foster carers and kids need a place to call home.
"We want to get the message out as much as possible and for people to come on board and help, I’ve got first hand experience of how impactful it can be."
West Berkshire Council offers comprehensive training to prospective carers and a generous weekly fostering allowance, as well as unwavering support throughout the process.
More information is available on West Berkshire Council’s website, where potential carers can hear from current foster parents in their own words, while an information pack is also available on request.
