THE Mayor of Dorchester has opened up about growing up in care to encourage people to step forward to foster children.

David Taylor, who now serves as a district and town councillor, went into care aged three after his mother had a breakdown.

He stayed in the system until, aged eight, his father collected him and his younger sister.

He found himself back in care just two years later, aged 10, after his father “disappeared off on a plane to Australia to be a £10 Pom”.

“Social workers came to my school to tell me he’d gone,” said Mr Taylor. “We were bounced around a bit.”

Mr Taylor, now 55, says he and his sister don’t bear either of his parents ill feelings: “We are both achievers,” he said. “We made friends with mum, and remained good friends until her death. It was a massive blow when she died. We were in contact with dad until he died, not long after mum.

“We had several foster carers over the years, as well as being in children’s homes, and the importance of these good people for children in care cannot be understated.”

Dorset County Council’s children’s services are facing tightly stretched budgets at the moment, and the council wants to recruit more foster carers to reduce the number of high-cost agency placements. Generous fees and allowances have been put in place, and a solid network of support has been created to help people from all walks of life become foster carers.

Mr Taylor, who has been with partner Martin for 20 years and married him in 2015, met many of Dorset’s foster families at the county council’s recent Children in Care Awards.

“The care awards were phenomenal, to meet all the families who had taken the plunge, to feel the love and warmth in that room,” he said.

“That was a great sensation, and I felt good that I was able to say to them, I really understand because I’ve been there.

“I strongly agree with foster care – you can’t give a child in care a better life than that. It’s vitally important we get more people to consider fostering. It’s a paid vocation, but it’s so much more than that. It can make all the difference to a child’s future. I’ve turned out OK, after all.”

Foster carers can be any age over 21, but must have a spare room. They can live in rented, owned or council homes and be any gender. They can be single or in a relationship of any sexuality.

To find out more go to www.fosterindorset.com, or email fosteringenquiries@dorsetcc.gov.uk, or call 01305 225568.