A scheme to encourage companies to be 'foster friendly' has received a welcome boost.

The construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall has become the latest employer to sign up to Cumbria County Council's Fostering Friendly initiative.

CN Group, publishers of the News & Star, was the first organisation in the county to back the scheme, which sees local businesses supporting foster carers and Cumbria's most vulnerable children and young people.

The idea is that those businesses registered to the initiative are supportive and flexible when it comes to foster carers.

Morgan Sindall joins 13 other businesses which have joined the Fostering Friendly Employer initiative since its launch in February 2015.

Dawn Moore, HR director at Morgan Sindall, said: “We’re proud to be able to support the scheme, which recognises the importance of foster carers and the support they provide to some of Cumbria’s most vulnerable children and young people.

“As a company, we’re committed to providing our employees with the right environment for a good work-life balance.

"We understand the need for employees to have flexibility to allow for career development while managing the demands of family life."

In Cumbria there are more than 600 children of all ages, from various cultural and social backgrounds, placed in foster care for many different reasons.

The council wants employers to come forward and implement changes as part of their corporate social responsibility to help support its work to recruit and retain foster carers in Cumbria.

Gillian Johnston, a county council foster carer and employee at Morgan Sindall, said: “As a foster carer, having a supportive employer can make all the difference. My husband Wayne works for Sellafield which is also signed up. It’s an extra layer of support for us.”​

Claire Lloyd, fostering service manager, added: ​“I think it sets a great example to other local employers and highlights how a company is taking its role in the community seriously, I hope more will follow their lead.​"

​For more information, visit www.cumbria.gov.uk/fostering