Norfolk has kicked off a recruitment drive for foster carers from all backgrounds, saying that there is an urgent need for them.

Although there are 404 foster carers in the area, demand is high and between March and May this year, the council had to house 370 children with carers.

All those interested in signing up are urged to find out more at the launch next Tuesday of a new Central Family Placement Team at the former-Solar Bowl - No.10 - in Bowthorpe. Information packs are available and social workers will be on hand to answer questions.

Norfolk has long championed the use of fostering, rather than children's homes, to provide places for children to live when they cannot stay at home.

Carer co-ordinator Val Howden said: "Next Tuesday's event will provide people with the chance to find out what fostering is all about."
"We will be stressing that being older, having a job, or being single would not be a bar to being a foster carer."

"There seems to be an assumption that a foster carer must be married and from Norfolk. This is not the case we are encouraging applications from all members of the community, different faiths and backgrounds."

One of those to be accepted as a carer is single mother Carol Cameron from North Earlham. She had always wanted to follow her aunt's example and foster, but felt that being a single parent might harm her chances.

"Being a single parent I wasn't sure it would be allowed - but it was no problem at all. It might help if more people knew that you can be a single parent and still foster."
Dozens of children have since lived with Carol and her nine-year-old daughter Michaela.