CHILDREN IN CRISIS

The number of children needing foster care far outweighs the number of approved homes. But what can be done? Woman’s Own investigates

- JENNY ACKLAND

Every year, hundreds of new foster families are needed to give homes to the rising number of children in care. Just last year, the charity Barnardo’s warned of a state of emergency in the fostering system, with England now facing a shortfall of 25,000 foster families over the next five years.

In England alone, according to official government statistics, there are 57,380 children living with foster families, with many more new places needed every year. But there is also a growing number of unaccompanied refugee children needing foster care, with many arriving having fled war-torn countries.

Demand has never been higher for people to open their homes to a child in need. Here, one woman shares her own experience of doing just that.

‘It was a huge decision, but we knew we wanted to help’

Fiona, 53, lives with her husband Peter, 55, and daughter Sophia, eight. It was just another normal evening in front of the TV in

2017 for me and my husband Peter, then 51, but the news that night was about to change our lives forever. As images of refugee children who’d fled war-torn Syria appeared on the screen, I became emotional.