A NEW campaign highlighting the urgent need for more foster carers across the UK has been launched by the Fostering Network.

22 Minutes emphasises the fact that a child comes into care and needs a foster family every 22 minutes across the UK. As a result, at least 8,750 more foster families are needed in 2012 alone.

Without these extra families, too many children won’t get the right foster home first time. They end up living a long way from family, friends and school, are repeatedly moved around as fostering relationships break down, or even end up in residential care despite fostering having been identified as their best option.

The campaign is using traditional and social media – particularly Twitter and Facebook – to encourage people to visit and explore 22minutes.org.uk, which contains films and blogs outlining foster carers’ experiences.

Foster carer Janet Fielding said: “As a family we keep fostering because of the rewards.

“Vulnerable children enter into your home very shy, upset, and hungry and crying because they have been taken away from their parents and siblings.

“We see how they change, develop and mature into happy and loving children.

We help them understand the difficulties that they have come from and teach them all aspects of ‘normal family life’.

“There is lots of advice I would give to people who are thinking of fostering and that is – try it, you will love it.”

Raina Sheridan, deputy chief executive of the Fostering Network, said: “Every 22 minutes a child comes into care in the UK and needs a foster family.

“For some of these children, living with foster carers will give them their first experience of loving and happy family life.

“We desperately need more people to come forward and foster.

“Our 22 Minutes campaign is all about spreading the word as widely as possible, raising awareness of the amazing job foster carers do in helping children to turn their lives around, and encouraging people to consider if they have the skills to foster.”

22 Minutes has been launched just ahead of Foster Care Fortnight, the Fostering Network’s annual campaign to raise awareness of fostering and the need for more foster carers, which starts on Monday.

Michelle Bear, 43, offers short-term placements (up to two years’ care). She has fostered a total of five children in nearly two years and hopes to continue giving children a loving home for as long as she possibly can.

“FOSTERING is something I initially thought about doing in my 20s. It wasn’t until I’d met my husband and settled down that I finally made the decision to foster. To be perfectly honest, I wish I’d done it sooner.

“Waiting for Southampton Fostering Services to call and offer us our first placement was unbelievably nerve-racking.

Despite the initial worries, our experience of fostering has been overwhelmingly positive. Our own two children are really supportive and we work together to make sure other children feel part of the family.

“Southampton offers fantastic support.

When we’ve needed advice, we’ve always been able to contact a support worker and the training courses available help develop your confidence and skills. Whether you can offer a child a home for two days or two years, it’s a help. It’s so important children feel there is someone out there who’s on their side and looking after them.

“Southampton Fostering Services offer excellent financial support, so as long as you have the space and dedication to give a child a loving home, you can really make a difference to their life.

Fostering is such an important, but easy decision for me.”

Interested in finding out more about fostering? Call Freephone 08005 19 18 18 or visit southampton.gov.uk/fostering.