Potential foster carers in North Somerset will have the chance to learn more about taking the first step to becoming a foster carer when North Somerset Council’s fostering team hold an information evening later this month.

The free event will be on Monday 29 April from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Costa Coffee, Oxford Street in Weston-super-Mare (near Nando’s).

The evening is an opportunity for people to meet the fostering team as well as current foster carers who can share their own experiences and give an insight into what fostering is really like.

Fostering North Somerset estimate that around 230 children in North Somerset are in foster care at any one time. Unfortunately, due to a shortage of local foster carers, children sometimes have to be placed in private foster care placement outside of the area – away from their schools, friends and other familiar sources of support.

By coming forward, North Somerset residents could help increase the number of foster carers in the area meaning more children and young people could be placed locally to their home community.

The Fostering North Somerset team are hoping that people who come along to the information evening will go on to have a successful home visit and then take part in the next Skills to Foster course, which is due to start in June.

Find out more about becoming a foster carer and request an information pack by visiting www.n-somerset.gov.uk/fostering or calling 01275 888 999.