COULD you foster a Carmarthenshire child? If so, your county needs you.

Carmarthenshire Fostering Service has an ongoing quest to recruit extra foster families for a growing number of children and young people.

More foster families are needed to provide loving homes especially for teenagers, children with disabilities and sibling groups.

There are more than 200 children from new born to 18-year-olds being fostered throughout the county, and new children for a variety of reasons are in need of foster families.

The shortage of suitable Carmarthenshire families to provide them with a loving home at this turbulent time in their lives means some children can be placed far from their families, friends and school.

This situation can lead to children detrimentally being placed separately from brothers and sisters and far from their natural home.

Carmarthenshire’s fostering service assistant team manager for recruitment, assessment and short breaks, Sue John Evans said: “We desperately need more foster carers in Carmarthenshire. We have many long term foster carers who will vouch that fostering can be an extremely rewarding career and lifestyle choice.

“We urgently need more to come forward with their hearts and homes for children and young people who need security and stability.

“You need certain qualities to foster and people are often surprised that they are suitable. We need more to come forward and make a lasting positive difference to the life of a child. All training and ongoing support is provided.

“Fostering is not easy. It may be challenging but it is immensely rewarding.

“You need to have patience, energy and dedication to care and make that huge difference to children’s lives. Many people think about fostering but don’t step forward."

If you think you could take that step and make a difference by becoming a Carmarthenshire foster carer for children from the county please get in touch on 0800 0933699.

Fostering Fortnight runs from June 1 to 14 2015. There is an open invitation to attend Fostering events. For more details see www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk