WORCESTERSHIRE County Council's Fostering Team is busy promoting this year's national Fostering Fortnight campaign to highlight the desperate need for more caring families in Redditch.

There are vulnerable children in the town who need someone to care for them while they are temporarily unable to live with their own families.

Foster carers look after children so families have a chance to sort out their problems. These can range from short-term illness to depression and drug or alcohol abuse. Some children may have been abused or neglected.

Social workers liaise and support families to help them sort out problems and make the home a safe place for a child with the aim being children and parents can be reunited.

Fostering Team manager Debbie Key said: "Fostering Fortnight is a national event and this is an ideal opportunity for us to be sharing information about fostering in Redditch.

"Foster carers play a vital role in their areas, caring for children in times of crisis and making a real, everyday difference to children's lives.

"Although fostering can be a challenging role, it is also very rewarding and we provide foster carers with the support of a fostering social worker and the opportunity of regular training and carer groups."

She added: "The county council needs 10 more fostering families in Redditch to help them to provide children with the foster family that will suit them best.

"We are especially interested in families who would consider fostering older children, teenagers and brother and sisters together."

For more details about fostering, call freephone 0800 028 2158.