AN URGENT appeal for more foster carers to offer safe and happy homes to children in South Lakeland is being made.

The campaign launched today by Cumbria County Council has the backing of foster carer Andrew Galvin, of Kendal, who with his wife Maria provides care one weekend per month for a teenage with autism and learning difficulties.

There are many ways that foster carers can make a difference to children's lives, says the council, from short term or shared care fostering, to offering a permanent home to a child.

Mr Galvin said: "When we first enquired about fostering the council talked us through the options and, as we both work full-time, shared care fostering seemed to work best for us.

“We have been offering shared care for the same child for six years now, since he was 10, and watching him grow up and progress is really, really rewarding – we have grown to love him like a member of our own family.

"It is personally so rewarding for us, and knowing it benefits his parents too is also really gratifying. They get a weekend to themselves that otherwise they wouldn’t get and they have the opportunity to spend time with their other child, who is not autistic."

Mr Galvin added: "You don’t have to be an expert in caring for children with a disability to be a shared care fosterer, as the council offers very good training and support. Really you just need to be caring, empathetic and keen to share a bit of your life with a young person."

The next information event for would-be foster carers is to take place on Saturday, September 30 at Crooklands Hotel, from 10.30am.

To find out more, visit cumbria.gov.uk/fostering or call 0303-3331216.