A leading charity says children won’t get the care they need unless more families volunteer as foster parents.
The Fostering Network says at least 500 new foster families are needed in the East Midlands to replace the 13 per cent of the “workforce” who retire or leave every year.
There is now a record 4,700 children living with foster families on any one day with many more coming in and out of care throughout the year.
The charity says unless more foster carers come forward, too many children will end up living in a children’s home when a foster family would be the best option for them – or with a foster carer a long way away from the child’s home, school and family.
Fostering Network chief executive Robert Tapsfield said: “These children need a stable family life to help them grow and achieve their potential. By becoming a foster carer, people can help them have the best possible opportunity for a positive future, to do well at school and be successful in later life.
“Fostering services are looking for people from all walks of life to become foster carers, of all ages, and from single people to large families.
“What matters is that they have a desire to work with children and the right skills.”
l You can visit www.could youfoster.org.uk or call Fosterline on 0800 040 7675