Would you consider fostering a child?
Eight out of ten people in the East of England have never considered fostering, according to a poll by a children's charity.
Barnado's says there is a shortage of 650 foster carers in the region and it is calling for a government recruitment drive.
Director Delroy Pomell said: "Persistent, chronic child neglect and maltreatment is not uncommon in the East of England and the rise in the number of care applications since the death of baby Peter shows an encouraging change of awareness.
"We must continue to support social workers to intervene early when they feel a child is at risk.
"The increase in referrals is resulting in an urgent call on expenditure and the government must find the funds.
"The huge shortfall of foster carers amounts to a crisis as it is vital that stable and secure foster placements are available in the region. The government needs to urgently invest in a hard-hitting recruitment drive for foster carers - it is past overdue."
The YouGov poll also found that 14 per cent of people in the East of England who had considered fostering had taken no further steps towards doing so.
For more information visit www.barnardos.org.uk/fosteringandadoption or call 0800 0277 280.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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