Foster families urgently needed

Statistics from the Fostering Network claim more than 4,750 youngsters are currently with foster parents.

More families are required not only to replace those who leave each year, but to ensure children coming into care find foster parents who are immediately available and right for them, with the necessary skills and qualities.

Teenagers, children with disabilities and sibling groups are among the most difficult to place.

If not enough fosterers come forward to offer homes to these groups, some children will find themselves living a long way from family, school and friends as well as being split up from brothers and sisters.

Some may find themselves with foster carers with neither the skills nor the experience to meet their specific needs.

A wider pool would make it more likely that the service could find the right foster home for each child, first time.

Fostering Network CEO Robert Tapsfield said: “Young people come into care for a wide range of reasons, but all come needing professional, dedicated and compassionate support. Foster carers are remarkable people who open their homes to some of society’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people.

“We urgently need people who believe that they have the right skills and qualities to foster to come forward and make a long lasting positive difference to the life of a child. “
> For more information visit www.couldyoufoster.org.uk