TWO children a week come into care and need a foster family in Swindon, the town’s fostering service has revealed.

The figure has been released to mark the start of this year’s national foster care fortnight which lasts until May 27, run by leading charity the Fostering Network.

The campaign, under the theme of Fostering: Time To Care, highlights the need for more foster carers in the town and comes as the Fostering Network announces that nationally a child comes into care and needs a foster family every 22 minutes.

Swindon Council is particularly looking to find more foster families for teenagers, as they are the hardest age group to home.

David Renard, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Fostering is extremely rewarding and we are very lucky in Swindon to have a number of foster carers who have provided homes to some of our most vulnerable children.

“However, as an increasing number of children come into care, we need even more foster carers especially for teenagers.”

A shortage of foster carers means some children have to live too far from family and friends, change school and be split up from brothers and sisters.

He said: “More foster families would mean more children could live with the right foster carer and not be moved around the care system.”

The council is also looking for more supported lodgings, carers and remand foster carers.

Supported lodgings is a form of independent living in a family setting for young people aged between 16 and 21, who may have been in foster care and are not yet ready to live on their own.

Remand fostering involves providing short-term placements for young people who break the law and is an alternative to custody.

Sharon Payne, of Wroughton, who started fostering in 1991, has experience of all the different types of fostering and is currently looking after three teenagers, including Kerrie-Anne Nightingale.

“Fostering is very difficult but it is very rewarding in the long run. Some of the children I have taken in, there was no hope for them in life but they have ended up really coming good,” said Sharon.

“It’s lovely because I saw a girl I had when she was 17 recently and she is married now with two children.”

The mother-of-three, who is a project worker for people with mental health problems, has been looking after Kerrie-Anne for two years.

Kerrie-Anne, 17, is studying at Swindon College and she said that Sharon helped her to achieve good grades at secondary school.

“When I first went into care I was as quiet as a mouse but now I am really loud and bubbly. She helped me to come out of my shell,” said Kerrie-Anne.

“Before I came to Sharon I didn’t stand much chance of getting many GCSEs. I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t get my GCSEs.”

Staff from the council’s fostering service will be in the Brunel Shopping Centre today, tomorrow and Friday to offer information on fostering. You can also call the family placement team on 01793 465700 or email familyplacement@swindon.gov.uk.