Loving homes needed more than ever

OLDHAMERS are being asked to provide loving homes to a record number of foster children this year.

The Fostering Network says the region has the highest demand in the country for new foster families. At least 1,200 are needed .

In 2013-14, 8,920 children lived in foster care in the region. A rising number of children will ned care this year despie a 13 per cent fall in fosterers due to returement and other factors.

Jackie Sanders, director of public affairs at The Fostering Network, said: “Fostering can be an incredibly rewarding career. Fostering is also a challenging job. A wider pool of foster carers enables fostering services to match the needs of each child more closely with the skills of the carer.”