FOSTER carers are being sought in Aireborough, Horsforth and parts of Wharfedale.

Leeds City Council says it is urgently seeking ‘exceptional people to help change a child’s life forever’ from across the city.

The local authority has one of the country’s largest and most well-established fostering networks and offers prospective new carers tailored support from social workers and specialist staff.

The council is particularly keen to hear from people who could foster children over the age of 11, sibling groups and those with additional needs. It already had a shortage of carers for those groups before the coronavirus outbreak but the pandemic has worsened the situation.

Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Children and Families, Councillor Fiona Venner, said: “Foster carers do an amazing job and make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people in communities across our city.

“Fostering can be an incredibly rewarding experience and I would like to reassure anyone who is thinking of becoming a foster carer that, on each of your journeys, we will be here to offer you meaningful and specialist support.”

To find out more visit www.foster4leeds.co.uk or call (0113) 378 3538. The council is stressing that its foster carer registration and application process is not being hampered or slowed by the COVID-19 outbreak.