Charity warns more foster families are needed to avert crisis

During 2011, 24,000 children were put into care and needed to be fostered, according to the Fostering Network, a 17 per cent rise on 2008.

It warns that an estimated 8,750 new foster families are needed this year, and without the extra families, a growing number of children may be forced to live in residential care, move a long way from their family home or be separated from their siblings.

Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, said: “More than 24,000 children who came into care last year were fostered. That means a foster home has to be found every 22 minutes.

“This figure highlights the overwhelming need for more people to come forward to foster. With more foster families, children in care will have a better chance of finding the stability and security they need to go on and achieve their potential.”

Darren Johnson, operational director of children’s services at Action for Children, said: “The number of children and young people stuck in the care system without access to foster care is worryingly high.

“With a shortage of nearly 9,000 foster carers across the UK, thousands of children who cannot live with their birth families currently have no family to support them at all.”

Next week Action for Children will be travelling the country as part of Foster Care Fortnight to encourage more people to become foster carers. The campaign comes after Prime Minister David Cameron last year urged potential adopters and foster parents to come forward as it was announced just 60 babies were adopted in 2010.

The Department for Education said it would be announcing new measures to enable more people to foster, cutting the red tape that can stop people coming forward.

A spokesman said: “We are reforming the care system so that the best interests of children always come first. ”

The Fostering Network has launched a campaign called 22minutes to encourage more people to become foster carers. To find out more visit: www.22minutes.org.uk