Carers needed for foster children

The council needs carers that reflect the diversity of the children in care

People across Oxfordshire are being encouraged to become foster parents in a series of information drives.

A county council foster care team will travel around the county in a van to mark Foster Care Fortnight, running from 12 to 25 May.

They will also attend the Lord Mayor's picnic in Oxford on 26 May.

"Foster carers have a vital role to play in giving Oxfordshire's children in care the best possible start in life," a council spokeswoman said.

The campaign is being run by Oxfordshire County Council's Family Placement Service.

Foster carers are given generous allowances to cover the cost of caring for a child Councillor Louise Chapman

A new scheme for children with challenging behaviour, aged three to six years old, is also being launched, where the foster carers provide an "intensive therapeutic placement".

The team will visit: Oxford, Faringdon, Wantage, Witney, Bicester, Banbury, Abingdon, Thame, Chipping Norton, Henley-on-Thames, Didcot, Wallingford and Kidlington markets.

Sarah Clayson, family placement service manager for the council, said: "We need to recruit a whole range of foster carers who reflect the diversity of the children needing foster care.

"There are many different ways to get involved - it is even possible to foster on a part-time basis."