Essex needs more foster carers

17 May 2010, 14:00 | Updated: 18 May 2010, 10:16

The County Council is looking for another hundred families to become foster carers.

630 households are already providing good, stable homes for vulnerable youngsters needing it here in Essex, but we're told more are needed so that 120 kids currently waiting for a foster home, don't end up having to move to another county.

Foster families are especially needed in Chelmsford, Harlow, Basildon and Colchester for babies, toddlers, teenagers, disabled children and sibling groups, so that brothers and sisters aren't split up.

Essex County Councillor Sarah Candy, Cabinet Member for Children's Services said: "It's time for those people in Essex, who are willing to open their households to stop thinking about fostering and come and talk to us. Children in Essex deserve to grow up in a stable, loving household and there are people in Essex that could provide this security. We must do all we can as a community to support our foster children."

Jan Mead, from Great Baddow, has been fostering for 26 years. She told us: "It's very rewarding. You have the tears, the ups and downs, but at the end of the day it's a good outcome and it makes you feel good knowing that child's happy."