Stars highlight need for more foster carers

Seven of Britain’s top stars have added their voices to the call for more foster carers, on the eve of the UK’s biggest foster carer recruitment campaign.

Lorraine Pascale and Samantha Morton, who both grew up in care, and Gareth Gates, the son of foster carers, have been joined by Jacqueline Wilson, Gabby Logan, Fern Britton and Tim Rhys-Evans in supporting Foster Care Fortnight 2012, launched tomorrow (Monday 14 May).

Foster Care Fortnight, run by leading charity the Fostering Network, aims to raise the profile of fostering and to highlight the urgent need for more foster carers across the UK.

A child comes into care and needs a foster family every 22 minutes in the UK. Currently there aren’t enough foster families, and fostering services must recruit at least 8,750 more in 2012.

Oscar-nominated film star Samantha Morton said: “As a foster child myself I would not be where I am today without the people that were kind enough to help and care for me when others were unable.

“Please please consider fostering a child."

Campaigns manager Vicki Swain said: “Foster Care Fortnight goes from strength to strength each year, and makes a real difference in encouraging the right people to come forward to offer homes to children who need them.

“We are delighted to have such amazing support from celebrities this year, all helping to focus attention on the urgent need for so many more people to come forward and foster.”

Read the quotes from our other celebrity supporters.

To find out more about fostering, explore our foster carer films and blogs at www.22minutes.org.uk

ENDS

For media enquiries or foster carer case studies contact the Fostering Network on press office on 020 7620 6425 or media@fostering.net

Follow us on Twitter @fosteringnet

Notes to editors

1.    Foster Care Fortnight runs from Monday 14 to Sunday 27 May 2012. Download our campaign press pack.

2.    On any one day there are more than 59,000 children living with more than 45,000 foster families across the UK. See breakdown of statistics by country.

3.    The Fostering Network estimates that at least 8,750 foster families need to be recruited across the UK in 2012 alone. A regional breakdown is available.

4.    The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading charity for all those involved in foster care. It exists to make life better for fostered children and the families that care for them.