By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 11:24, Tuesday, 25 September 2012

A drive to recruit more foster carers is underway this week – with the help of doctors and dentists.

The Cumbria County Council backed initiative involves letters being sent to all homes in Penrith and the Eden area, where there is a particular shortage.

A week long publicity and awareness campaign has been launched to encourage people from all backgrounds to get involved.

Together with the leaflets, posters are going up in doctors and dentists surgeries and in shops.

Anne Burns, county council cabinet member for children’s social care, said giving children a safe and loving environment was the most important thing anyone could do.

“It’s very worthwhile,” she said.

“I’d call on people thinking about fostering in the Penrith and Eden area to come along to the information session to find out what it involves.

“It will be a good chance for them to meet members of our fostering team and learn about how they can transform the lives of vulnerable children by becoming foster carers.”

The council said there was no such thing as a “typical” foster carer and they could be a couple or a single person.

Anyone interested in finding out more can go along to an information session at the new community fire station in Penrith on October 4 at 6pm.

During the session applicants will be shown a short film made by some local foster carers and children who have been in foster care. Members of the fostering team will also be on hand to discuss and answer any questions.

A report earlier this year revealed that the fostering system nationally was under huge strain due to a rise in the number of youngsters needing placements since 2006.

The county council launched a recruitment driver in February, saying they wanted an extra 30 foster carers this year. There are 45 in the Carlisle area and just over 60 in Allerdale and Copeland.

First published at 11:27, Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk