There are 313 foster carers in Bradford but more are needed.

There are nearly 900 looked-after children in the district and, while that has not changed much from last year’s record level, some carers have retired and others have moved on to different occupations.

The service aims to recruit an extra 35 foster carers and is particularly seeking carers with experience of looking after children with a range of additional needs. There is also a particular shortage of placements for teenagers.

Some young people have had a lot to deal with in their short lives and may exhibit challenging behaviours, and some may have complex health needs and disabilities.

Foster carers are offered a range of benefits, financial rewards and training along with professional support.

Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford Council’s executive member for children and young people, said: “Fostering is a vocation of enormous responsibility which can lead to great personal reward. Knowing you gave a young child a safe, secure and loving home or helped a teenager to make their way in the world, is something you will never forget.”

Through its annual campaign, Foster Care Fortnight from May 13 to 26, the Fostering Network aims to raise awareness and encourage families to get involved.

Bradford pop star Gareth Gates is a celebrity supporter. “I am proud to be from a fostering family,” he said.

“My parents put themselves in the frame to care for some of the UK’s most vulnerable children. They offered a home, security, stability and love to children because they wanted to make a difference to their lives.”

The Council has 251 in-house mainstream fostering households – families, couples or single people, and there are 421 children placed with foster carers in full-time long-term or short-term placements. It also runs fostering schemes for emergency care.

Foster carers receive a weekly fee based on how many children they care for and an allowance to cover costs. A new carer looking after one teenager could get more than £310 a week.

Jonathan Helbert, the Council’s service manager for fostering, said: “We already have a tremendous network of dedicated foster carers, but we always need more. Fostering is a challenging role, but it can make a real difference to a child’s life.”

Anyone wishing to foster must be aged 21 or more and have a spare room.

If you want to find out more, call the Council on (01274) 434331 or e-mail adoptionfostering@bradford.gov.uk.