In the Pink for Foster Care Fortnight

South Shields Town Hall will be bathed in a pink light on Monday (9 May) to launch Foster Care Fortnight.

The national campaign, run by the Fostering Network, will run until 22 May and seeks to encourage more people to think about fostering.

An opportunity to find out more about fostering and meet foster carers is on offer on Thursday, 12 May. Prospective foster carers can also meet members of the team who will give a brief overview of fostering and give advice on how to apply. The event will be held at 25-27 Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF between 6pm and 7.30pm. Refreshments will be provided.

The Council is looking for more people who can offer a stable, loving home to children - particularly brother and sisters - who cannot be with their birth family.

Foster carers can be married or same sex couples or single but must be aged at least 25.

The Council runs a Payment for Skills model which means foster carers are paid an additional fee according to their experience and qualifications in addition to the weekly allowance payments they receive.

South Tyneside Council's Children's Services have been ranked one of the best in the country after being rated "Good" by Ofsted. Fostering services were commended for their comprehensive training and support to carers and children in placement.

Councillor Adam Ellison, Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: "Fostering Fortnight is an opportunity to recognise the fantastic work that our foster carers do to support our young people.

 "Our foster carers do an amazing job but we are always keen to recruit new people. While fostering is not without its challenges, it is an immensely rewarding job. I would urge anyone thinking about fostering to come along to the event or contact the fostering team to find out the facts."

Supporting young people in need is one of the Council's priorities.

Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer is asked to visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/fostering or contact a fostering officer on 0191 423 8500 or email fostering@southtyneside.gov.uk