Call for more foster carers as campaign launched

A couple who became foster carers have urged others to open their homes to children in need as part of a campaign launched for the new year.

Amy and Ben Grainger, from Stafford, said they started fostering a number of years ago and others should consider doing the same.

Their plea came as Staffordshire County Council said dozens of new foster carers were needed to meet the demand in the area.

Amy Grainger said: "The new year is when a lot of people look for a new challenge or make a new year's resolution, and we would like to see more families choosing to become foster carers.

"We thought about fostering for a few years ourselves before we actually took the leap," she said.

"We knew we could definitely open our home to a child in need and we're so glad we did it."

Ben Grainger said the couple have a daughter so had to make sure the process "worked for everyone" but added there was a lot of support available.

"I would say to anyone thinking about fostering to go for it," he said. "It's incredibly rewarding and you won't look back."

The council said tens of thousands of children across the UK needed fostering while 60 more foster families needed to be found in Staffordshire alone.

Councillor Nick Lakin said: "We are always looking for new foster families to come forward so we can give children the opportunity to grow up in a loving home," he added.

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