A PAIR of lifelong friends from Cirencester are urging people to get into fostering after the county council’s information bus visited the town.

Adele Lawrence and Sue Cragg, both 43, are foster carers themselves and have had children with a range of ages and backgrounds in their care.

Both have children and take on short term foster children for up to two years at a time while they are being found a permanent adopted home.

Adele said that she had been fostering for around ten years and said that it was a hugely rewarding lifestyle.

She has looked after seven children in her time as a fosterer and said that although it was tough to see them go she was delighted when they found permanent homes.

She said: “If someone offered you a million pounds or to see the child you fostered get adopted you’d pick the child every time. It wouldn’t even be a choice.

Sue got into fostering just over three years ago and has had four young people since she started. She explained that she got into caring for young people in need of a home because of Adele and that they both supported each other when things were difficult.

She added: “The main thing is that you’re offering these kids stability and a family life. They have got to understand that whatever they do to you will still love them.”

Sue and Adele agreed that the most important thing with fostering was to have an open mind and patience and urged anyone thinking of fostering to call the county council for information.

There are currently around 428 children and young people living with foster carers in Gloucestershire and as many as 63,000 across the country.

Fosterers receive help from the council in terms of training, access to support groups and as much as £300 for fostering a teenager.

Gloucestershire County Council accepts applications to foster from all sectors of society.

There is no upper age limit and people can be married, single, co-habiting, in a heterosexual or same sex relationship, a homeowner or renting a property but all applicants will need to be over 21 and have a spare room in their house.

To find out more about becoming a foster carer please contact Gloucestershire County Council’s fostering team on 01242 532654 or come along to a drop-in event.