Today in Derby around 400 children are in care, many of whom would like nothing more than to be part of a stable, happy family.

A large number live with some 200 foster carers who Derby City Council constantly rely upon to house children. Around 40 live in one of six Derby children's homes and, luckily, many will eventually return to their families.

However, for some, adoption or long-term fostering is their future and no-one could disagree that a child's place is at the heart of a loving family.

That's why Derby City Council would like to see more children in care living with foster carers or adoptive parents.

"Derby has got a lot of children in care for the size of its population, although numbers have declined a little in recent years," said Dal Guram, marketing officer for Derby City Council. "But most big cities have got the same problem, Nottingham would say the same. Inner cities are more likely to suffer from child poverty and other factors that bring children into care."

Nevertheless not every child has been plucked from an unhappy situation: "Some children only need temporary care, perhaps because a parent is going into hospital and has no family around to call on for help," Dal explained.

But if long-term care is the solution, unfortunately the number of people keen to adopt children over five and sibling groups falls short of what is needed. There are often one or two thorny problems thrown in.

Dal said: "Most people who make inquiries about adopting want a baby or a child under three. It's understandable. Perhaps they've struggled to start a family for a long time and have been through IVF."

But much sought-after healthy white babies are few and far between and some of those who do need a home have problems to contend with.

And, sadly, the obsession with babies, highlighted by the Kilshaw case in January 2001, which saw a couple attempt to buy babies over the internet, means a huge number of children over the age of four have less chance of finding new adoptive parents.

Boys have a problem too: "It's easier to place girls than boys," said Dal. "If we had, say, an eight-year-old girl in need of foster carers or adoptive parents we would have a fair number of inquiries. If we had an eight-year-old boy there would be less interest.

"We need people who are prepared to adopt, particularly single children over the age of four, sibling groups of all ages and children with diabilities and special needs of all ages.

"We also need more people from inter-racial and ethnic minority backgrounds to come forward as we have children from those communities in our care.

"We would like to hear from people from all backgrounds, cultures and age groups. You can be single, married, living together or separated, a parent or without children, employed or on benefits, a householder or a tenant."

With these facts in mind, Derby City Council is constantly searching for ways to reach out to prospective adoptive parents. Meanwhile they have the on-going battle of placing children with families.

Dal said: "Initially, when the care plan for a child is adoption we will see if any of our own adoptive parents are suitable. We are also in a consortium with other local authorities and we share adoptive parents. We would contact them too.

"The third step we would take to place someone is through a nationwide publication called Be My Parent. It features profiles of children and Derby youngsters appear in it regularly."

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