STAFF from Foster Care Associates (FCA) in the West Midlands will be hosting drop-in and recruitment events as the nation celebrates Foster Care Fortnight.

This year’s theme is 'Fostering: make a connection' and the FCA team is planning a range of events to give people the opportunity to chat face-to-face with advisors and meet foster carers, so that they can learn first-hand about the rewards of fostering and how they can get involved.

There will be a coffee morning at the FCA offices in Topaz Business Park near Bromsgrove on June 2, and the team will be providing information at the Kingfisher Shopping Centre in Redditch on June 4.

Foster Care Fortnight is an annual campaign that aims to highlight the fantastic work done by foster carers to help transform the lives of looked after children and young people and encourage those interested in fostering to take that first step into becoming a foster carer.

Helen Wood from FCA said: "We need more than 30 new carers in the West Midlands, particularly to help children and young people to move out of residential homes and into a family environment. We are actively looking for responsible, nurturing adults who have a spare room and can give children in need of a foster home the support they need to thrive and grow.

"There are many factors that make up an ideal candidate – everything from being adaptable, resilient and nurturing, to being a good listener and flexible in response to a young person’s needs.

"Foster Care Fortnight is the ideal opportunity to meet with people and have an informal face-to-face chat to find out more about fostering.

"Fostering is an incredibly rewarding experience. We have some amazing people caring for children and young people across the area, and our regional offices ensure those local to the area benefit from the support we have to offer whenever they need it."

More details are available at thefca.co.uk or by calling 0800 022 4012.