SOCIAL services are desperately seeking out foster homes for more than 10,000 children and young people in the UK, writes Vicky Beckett. Foster fortnight, with the open evening in June, are looking for people who are up to the challenge in and around t

SOCIAL services are desperately seeking out foster homes for more than 10,000 children and young people in the UK, writes Vicky Beckett.

Foster fortnight, with the open evening in June, are looking for people who are up to the challenge in and around the borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

May 17 to 31 Foster Fortnight was an uplifting success with a positive turn out.

Nicole Harman, fostering and adoption recruitment project officer said: "We need people with patience and tenacity and energy."

Hopes are high for the open evening on June 10 at 6-8pm in the Isaac Newton Center, Room G18, Lancaster Road, and the foster service urge anyone who is interested to attend.

People can speak to social workers and foster parents and ask all the questions they need with 25 people attending the event so far.

Kensington and Chelsea residents, Daniela Schwartz and Scott Moeller, have been fostering for the past three years alongside working full-time for children up to 10-years-old.

Parent Daniela Schwartz said: "I would encourage anyone who loves to help and loves children to consider fostering.

"It's extremely rewarding and our whole family - including our seven-year-old son and Scott's three older children - have enjoyed helping our foster children to feel safe and loved.

"I'm not denying that it's sometimes hard and you do face some challenging situations, but it is certainly worth it."

Fostering gives security to children and young people who may need care for weekends to up to two years. Most foster children return home within six months.

Carers have support through allowances, training and the opportunity to study NVQ level 3.

In the UK there are nearly 70,000 children in public care everyday, 77 per cent of these live with 43,000 foster families.

To find out more visit www.couldyoufoster.org.uk to attend the open evening call 020 7361 3000, visit www.rbkc.gov.uk/fosterus for information.