DORSET Council is calling for people to become foster carers

Cllr Andrew Parry, Dorset Council portfolio holder for children, education and early help, said: "Our foster carers provide love, care and vital support for children and families who need it.

"If you think you have the qualities that could help children flourish, then get in touch.”

As a foster carer, you receive a weekly fee, plus a weekly allowance for each child you look after.

You will have a free programme of learning and development from experts, training courses, learning on-line and other methods.

Susan Lochrie is a Dorset foster carer and has looked after more than fifty children over the last three decades with the help of her husband Des.

She said: “The more we welcomed, the more we enjoyed it so when we were asked to foster an autistic child with learning disabilities for a week, we were pleased and excited to welcome her to our family.

"This turned into a two-year placement and the family never looked back.

“We have continued to provide day care to many children – some only came for a short time, others for longer.

"We started fostering a girl aged three and she came to us once a fortnight, before eventually moving to a boarding school at the age of 17.

"We also decided to adopt a little boy at the time when he was five to give him a permanent home."

"Our years of fostering have given us so many memories, some of sadness and frustration, but many more of fun, love and many laughs, and overriding it all is the feeling of satisfaction that we have made a difference to the life of each child.”

Visit fosterindorset.com to find out more.