'Foster care changed my life, but we need more carers'
BBCKelsey is like any other university student - juggling deadlines, placements and a busy social life.
But this is a position she never thought she would be in.
At 10 years old Kelsey was placed into foster care and admits at first she did not trust the systems and the people trying to look after her.
Now studying social work at Northumbria University, she says her foster family changed her perceptions of what she could achieve in life and she wants others to consider the role.
"Fostering is about guiding people through the hardest times of their lives and making sure they get the chance to know what love is," she says.
Kelsey is now part of a Northumberland County Council campaign to help address a shortage of foster carers in the area.
"When I was younger I never had my mam and dad there in the way that my foster carers are there," she says.
"I was told to bottle up my feelings, but now I have people who will listen, I have that mother figure.
"I want other kids to have that too."
Figures from Foster with North East, a partnership between 12 local authorities from across the region, show locally more than 6,000 children are currently in care but only 1,500 approved foster carers are available.
The shortage is also a national concern with the government aiming to relax rules to create 10,000 new places for vulnerable children in England.
Josh MacAlister, Labour MP for Whitehaven and the government's minister for children and families, said: "Reversing the decline in the number of available foster places is an urgent priority."
As of 31 March last year, there were 81,770 children in the care of local authorities in England, while only 69,825 approved fostering places are available.
Kath Nixon has been a foster carer in Northumberland for more than 20 years, specialising in caring for teenagers.
She says young people often come to her home grieving the loss of their family and feeling resentful, but trust can be built through listening without judgement.
"Fostering isn't easy," she says.
"You have your ups and downs but I've got so many positive memories of some of the success stories of the children we've helped. That's all I focus on."
She is urging people to consider exploring fostering, either as a full time carer or providing respite cover to foster families.
According to the the Department for Education, the North East has the highest rate of looked-after children in the country.
While the national average is 71 per 10,000 children aged under 18, the North East is significantly higher with 111 per 10,000 children.
Northumberland County Council's head of service for social work safeguarding Patrick Boyle said people from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply to become foster carers and extensive support will be offered to successful applicants.
"Keeping vulnerable children in Northumberland close to the people, places and accents they are familiar with is crucial to ensure the success they deserve in the future," he said.
