Foster campaign to help Calderdale children

Independent fostering agency Fostering Solutions is encouraging people in Halifax to make a positive change in 2015 and become a foster carer.

Fostering Solutions has launched the Foster15 campaign this month to highlight the shortfall in foster carers, after new statistics showed 30,430 children started to be looked after in 2014 – an average of one child being taken into care every 15 minutes in England.

According to statistics from the Department of Education, the number of looked after children in local authority care across Calderdale and the surrounding areas is 320.

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Gareth Walton, operations director for Fostering Solutions, said: “The shortfall in foster carers is only set to increase, with recent reports showing that number of total looked after children has risen to 68,840, an increase of 7 per cent on 2010. 75 per cent (51,340) of looked after children are cared for in foster placements, an increase of 9 per cent since 2010.

“We need more foster carers to come forward. Becoming a foster carer is one of the most rewarding steps you can take – these children are likely to have had a challenging start to their lives and you can be the person who makes the priceless difference to their life by offering them a home and care.

“January is a great time to consider a change and we want Foster15 to raise awareness of this need and urge more people to come forward to find out more about fostering.”