It takes a special kind of person to foster a child.

Bringing up your own child as a parent is difficult enough, although the rewards far outweigh the problems.

But to take on a child, often an older child, for a short term, and to deal with very challenging situations that have likely led to the need for fostering, requires a particular kind of strength. Which is why it is so important that anyone who does feel able to do it comes forward to answer an appeal by Bradford Council in today’s Telegraph & Argus.

In the council district, there are 450 children over the age of ten in the care of Bradford Council. Of those, 259 live with foster carers or are in residential care.

And because of the lack of foster carers in Bradford, 30 of those are outside the district or in residential homes.

Coming forward and acting as a foster parent can make a huge difference to often-troubled teenagers’ lives. It gives them a secure and safe environment to live in while a more permanent solution is found to their long-term accommodation needs.

It is a huge challenge, and is not something to be taken lightly, but as Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford Council’s executive member for children and young people, explains, it can lead to great personal reward.

With Foster Care Fortnight starting next week, the Council is keen to get more foster carers coming forward. If you think you can step up and make a difference then now is the time to do it. There are young children out there whose lives you can make a real, tangible difference to.