A RALLYING call is being issued for more foster families to help transform children's lives in Worcestershire.

During national Foster Care Fortnight, which began on Monday (May 8), Worcestershire County Council is urging anyone interested in helping to foster children to answer the call.

At least 7,180 new foster families will be needed across the UK during 2017 to provide stable, secure and loving homes for record numbers of fostered children, according to new figures from The Fostering Network.

In the West Midlands alone there will be a need for 770 foster homes this year.

Dr Catherine Driscoll, director of children's services at Worcestershire County Council, said: "Prospective foster carers need a range of skills and qualities, including patience, the ability to listen, being a team player, a sense of humour and much more besides.

"They will receive training and support from the county council as well as an allowance to cover the cost of looking after the children in their care.

"If you have a spare room and think you could offer the love and care that a fostered child needs, please contact our fostering service."

In Worcestershire, there is a particular need for those people who might be able to care for siblings.

Adele Green, an existing foster carer to siblings in Worcestershire, said: "Fostering siblings is very different from fostering single children, as they still have someone to share memories with and grow up with.

"We feel that keeping siblings together can be a good thing as children coming into the care system can find it disorientating and scary, but having someone they know and relate to can help them settle in to new homes easily and less stressfully."

Kevin Williams, chief executive of the Fostering Network, said: "Foster families can transform children’s lives, giving them the chance of having the childhood they deserve, a childhood that they otherwise may not have had. Foster carers are amazing people, performing an invaluable role that really serves the whole community.

"A wider pool of foster carers enables fostering services to be able to match the needs of each child more closely with the skills that each foster carer brings, and to find the right home for each child, first time. That’s why we are urging people in Worcestershire to get in touch with their fostering service today."

Anyone interested in fostering Worcestershire can visit worcestershirefostering.co.uk for more information.