A CHARITY is urging people across the North-East and North Yorkshire to consider becoming foster carers to help thousands of youngsters in care.

The Fostering Network says 450 new families are urgently needed across the region particularly for teenagers, disabled children and siblings.

A further 720 are needed across Yorkshire and Humberside.

The call comes with the launch of the charity’s annual Foster Care Fortnight today. (Monday June 1)

The charity has revealed that a new survey showed that teens are moved too often which can have a hugely detrimental effect on children’s education, wellbeing and ability to make and maintain relationships

It found 40 per cent of fostered teenagers are living with their third foster family since coming into care and one in 20 have been fostered by at least ten different families.

The results also highlighted a real need for more foster carers to offer homes to siblings and disabled children.

Jackie Sanders, director of The Fostering Network, said: “As each year passes, we see more and more children coming into care.

“We need people who can open their heart and their homes to vulnerable children and young people and use their skills to help support them to reach their full potential.

“In particular we need people who have the skills, patience and passion to look after teenagers who may have had a really tough time and be facing some real challenges and to offer them love, stability and security.

“Fostering services across the North-East are working hard to recruit and support foster carers with the right skills so that each child who needs it can have the home and family they need and deserve.”

There are 3,340 children and young people living with foster families in the region.

The charity says that not being able to find the right foster carer also means that children too often have to live a long way from family, friends and school and are split up from their brothers and sisters.

In comparison, finding the right foster carer at the outset leads to stability, improved relationships and a positive experience of childhood.

For more information about fostering and supporting children in foster care and foster carers visit fostering.net or contact your local authority.