Carers needed for foster children

More than 400 children and young people are in care in Nottingham

More foster parents are needed to look after 400 children and young people in care in Nottingham.

More than £4m is being invested in Nottingham City's Fostering Service to recruit and train new carers and to provide support for existing carers.

Fostering Fortnight has been organised by the city council from 12-25 May, during which events will be held to inform and recruit foster carers.

From Tuesday to Saturday there will be an information point on Smithy Row.

The council says the greatest need is for carers willing to take boys aged 10 and older, as well as siblings.

There are a lot of children out there who need support and fostering. Anita Byfield, foster carer

Currently, 25% of the children are of dual heritage. More black and mixed parentage families are needed to provide foster homes.

Twins Anita Byfield and Veronica Eden signed up to become foster parents last year and have recently received their first placements. Ms Eden described the experience as "challenging" but "rewarding".

Ms Byfield appealed for more foster carers to come forward: "There are a lot of children out there who need support and fostering.

"There are a lot of foster carers out there who are in different areas like Skegness and Mablethorpe, and we need to have Nottingham city foster carers for here, so they can keep the children, who can see their birth parents on a contact basis."