Durham County Council’s fostering service has launched a campaign to encourage more people to become foster carers…

More than 450 foster carers are needed across the North East, and as part of the campaign ‘Make a Difference in 2016 – Become a Foster Carer’, which runs from January 4th to 18th, information sessions are being held to help people find out more about fostering.

The sessions take place at County Hall in Durham on Saturday 16th January between 10.30am and 2pm, and Monday 18th January between 11am and 6.30pm.

The council’s fostering team and foster carers will be available to answer any questions and help people find out how they can get started.

People will also be able to learn about the wide range of professional support and extensive training that is available to foster carers in County Durham.

Florence Coulter, fostering team manager, said: “We know that foster carers make a real difference to the lives of the children and young people that they care for and we would like to encourage more people to find out about how rewarding a career in fostering is.

“Lots of people have the skills to become a foster carer, but aren’t quite sure what’s involved. Our information sessions are a great way for you to meet our foster carers and hear what it’s like to foster.”

To find out more about becoming a foster carer or the information sessions, visit www.durham.gov.uk/fostering, email fostering@durham.gov.uk or phone 03000 269 400.

Members of the public can also find out first-hand what it is like to foster with Durham County Council by watching this video.