Urgent call for fosterers on the Fylde

Jean and Brian Adams, from Thornton, have fostered five children aged seven to 17-years-old since 2012.

But despite their hard work, Lancashire still suffers a severe shortage of foster families, with 1,050 additional foster carers needed in the North West alone. Figures released by Barnardos children’s charity revealed there are almost 50,000 teenagers living in care in the UK.

Brian, 63, said: “Through no fault of their own, these children need our help and people simply can’t imagine the huge and positive impact that a caring and nurturing foster family can have to turn their young lives around.

“You hear about people who say ‘my life’s washed up; I’m 60-years-old and can’t even get a job stacking shelves’, when they could do the most rewarding, incredible job possible.

“We have got a tremendous team at Barnardos to help us, and you learn an enormous amount while changing somebody’s life.

“We would have got into fostering a long, long time ago if we had known what we do now.”

Jean, 55, said: “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the change in a young person, who may have had a difficult upbringing, as their life turns around.”

Rebecca Quigley, manager for Barnardo’s North West, said: “Being a teenager can be tough but having the support of a stable caring family, like Brian and Jean, can quite simply transform their lives.”

For more information, visit www.barnardos.org.uk.