From Louise Raymond, Exeter 383578, May 12, 2008

FOSTER carers who have a combined total of 340 years' caring experience will be honoured at a ceremony at County Hall at a special event to mark the national Foster Care Fortnight, which starts this week (12-23 May).

Organised by Devon County Council, the ceremony takes place on Friday, May 23, and is the culmination of a fortnight of activities to mark foster care in Devon.

A series of adverts will appear in local newspapers and on local radio across Devon, and the fostering team will be in the Devon County Council marquee at the Devon County Show, with social workers and foster carers talking to people and handing out leaflets.

The council has around 320 foster carers and 415 children in foster placements, but a further 30 carers are being sought to provide a place for a child in need.

Councillor John Smith, Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services, said: "Families who can provide short-term, long-term or respite placements are always needed, to offer love and security to a child or children who have often not had the best start in life.

"We are very fortunate in Devon to have a superb network of foster carers, many of whom have been fostering for more than a decade, and our fostering team provide them with all the training, support and advice they need, as well as organising events like the awards ceremony to recognise the really important contribution they make.

"Foster carers can be single, married, in a same sex relationship, employed or unemployed, of any age and with or without other children. One single thing they have in common is the ability to provide the security, love and understanding to enable the child to build self-esteem, establish friendships and fulfil their potential."

Anyone who would like further information about fostering can contact the fostering team on 0845 115 1013 or visit the website www.devon.gov.uk/fostering.

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