One of Foster Portsmouth’s social workers has passed the halfway mark in a significant challenge to complete 100 sea swims in 100 consecutive days, all to celebrate foster carers and raise awareness of the urgent need for more people to come forward.
Social worker John Hillage has passed the halfway point of his challenge to complete a sea swim every day for 100 days.
The challenge, which splashed off on New Year’s Day, is to, “celebrate foster carers and raise awareness of the ongoing need to recruit more”.
John, from Portsmouth City Council’s foster carer recruitment team, has been an avid outdoor swimmer since 2009. He finds the experience to be very positive for his mental health and wellbeing.
John will complete challenge swims in the sea at Southsea. He admits that some days the cold temperature will make it very challenging and it’ll need to be a very quick dip!
So far this year he has had to contend with some frost, heavy rain, wind and storm Goretti.
John shared, “I swim frequently throughout the year, but this 100-swim challenge means I have to get down to the beach whatever the weather!”
However, John sports his trusty ‘Foster Portsmouth’ branded beanie hat to help him warm up whilst raising much needed awareness. He also treats himself to a well-deserved hot drink afterwards, and then a brisk cycle ride home which, “usually reunites me with my bodily extremities!”
Foster Portsmouth, Portsmouth City Council’s fostering service, urgently needs more foster carers for the children and young people from Portsmouth who find themselves in need of a loving home.
John added, “One place where there’s been a lot of warmth is the people around me. I know a variety of people who swim at Southsea Beach, and they have all been getting behind me.”
Although one Monday the weather was particularly stormy, John braved yet another trip to the beach to continue his pledge, “The rain and wind left it very deserted, but one friend travelled from North End on the bus at 7am just to check in on me, which was just such a nice thing to do. The next day was also awful, yet three local swimmers came to keep an eye out.”
“In the spirit of full disclosure, I did not fully swim those days due to safety reasons, but I did splash about in the surf under the watchful gaze of friends. Others have been asking me what day of the 100 I am on and taking photos of me to document the challenge, which is motivating when it’s been so miserable weather and I’m still holding on to the remnants of a 4-week-old seasonal bug!”
There are many types of fostering and everyone will be able to find one that’s the right fit for them. This could be a short or long-term arrangement for a child or siblings until they’re ready to live independently or be reunited with family, support for children with a disability or children seeking safety and asylum, Supported Lodgings to develop their independent living skills, a parent and baby arrangement, or respite care.
Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council, said:
“Foster Portsmouth urgently needs more foster carers for the children and young people who need a loving, stable home. John’s challenge shines a light on the strength of our ‘team around the child’ and the incredible dedication shown by our foster carers.”
Anyone aged 21+ with a spare bedroom could foster with Foster Portsmouth regardless of their age, gender, faith, ethnicity, sexuality, marital or work status, or whether they rent or own their own home.
This theme of people helping and supporting each other really resonates with John. It emphasises the two reasons he is doing the challenge: “At the Portsmouth 100-year launch event at Southsea Castle recently, council leader Steve Pitt remarked that, ‘Portsmouth is a city, but also the biggest village in England’. I fully agree with him; the closeness of the people, warmth and support all give a small village feel, here in the heart of Portsmouth. And I count myself lucky enough to feel that warmth every day I live in this city.”
“If Portsmouth is a village, then the fostering community here in Portsmouth is a village within a village. There are nearly 200 fostering households across the city caring for children and working with their birth families too. They help one another out, and work together with the common aim of helping children from this city. They show the very best in warmth, caring and nurturing qualities that this city has to offer.”
Foster Portsmouth offer foster carers competitive fees and allowances for each child in their care, a bespoke training programme and 24/7 support, access to our mentoring scheme and the award-winning Mockingbird model of care, discounts and benefits, social activities, and free membership to The Fostering Network.
John hopes that a few foster carers, Portsmouth City Council staff or other locals might join him for one or two of the swims over the remaining weeks of the challenge, particularly when the weather starts to slowly warm up, “Everyone would be very welcome.” He’s also enjoy an opportunity to chat about fostering and how anyone can find the right type of care for them and their commitments.
To mark John’s final swim, a small celebration will take place on Wednesday 10 April, between 2pm and 4pm, at Southsea Beach Hut 68, Lumps Fort. Anyone is welcome to come along, whether you would like to cheer John on, join him in the water for the last dip, or simply enjoy a cup of tea or coffee by the beach.
“I’ll carry on swimming for the coming days in tribute to the city and its foster carers and, hopefully, it might be a little warmer by April!”
Our foster carers come from all walks of life, and they all share the same commitment and motivation to make a positive difference to a child’s life. This could be a short or long-term arrangement for a child, young person or siblings until they’re ready to live independently or be reunited with family, support for children seeking asylum or children with additional needs, supported lodgings to develop their independent living skills, a parent and baby placement, or respite care.
People aged 21+ with a spare bedroom could foster with Foster Portsmouth regardless of their age, gender, faith, ethnicity, sexuality, marital or work status, or whether they rent or own their own home.
Our foster carers receive excellent, local training and 24/7 support, including through our mentoring scheme and the award winning Mockingbird Programme, and a competitive financial package made up of allowances, skill fees and benefits which reflects how highly we value our carers.
To enquire about fostering with Foster Portsmouth, or to arrange a 1:1 with one of our experienced team or existing foster carers, please contact us.
