Are you patient, energetic, and with a good sense of humour? If so, have you thought about becoming a foster carer for children and young people?

Foster Care Fortnight runs this year from Monday May 14 to Sunday May 27 – West Sussex County Council is using the national campaign to highlight the need for more foster carers to come forward and give security and stability to children in care.

Foster carers come from all walks of life and from a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. People from a variety of backgrounds can apply to foster, regardless of their marital status or sexuality. You don’t just need to be a good parent. Other important skills are patience, energy, a good sense of humour and the ability to treat children and young people as individuals.

Fostering can be either short or long-term and can range from just a few days to several years. There are also several types of fostering including short and long-term, respite, and parent and baby. Foster carers give children the chance to develop and flourish in a safe, secure environment. The County Council aims to try and place children with foster carers in their local area, so they can continue to stay close to their school, friends, people and places they know.

Being a foster carer is very rewarding and is a chance to help support children and young people. Foster carers receive a comprehensive support package from the Council, including ongoing training and financial allowances to meet the needs of the children and young people in their care.

Informal fostering drop-in sessions are being held throughout West Sussex this year and are a chance for anyone interested to find out more and ask any questions they may have. For further information visit the website at www.westsussex.gov.uk/fostering or call 01403 229333.

Fostering drop-in sessions run from 10am to 4pm. The sessions taking place in West Sussex in 2012 are:

• Saturday 19 May, Crawley Library, Southgate Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6HG.
• Tuesday 22 May, Chichester Library, Tower Street, Chichester, PO19 1QJ
• Monday 18 June, East Grinstead Library, 32-40 West Street, East Grinstead, RH19 4SR.
• Tuesday 17 July, Bognor Regis Library, London Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 1DE.
• Wednesday 15 August, Burgess Hill Library, The Martlets, Burgess Hill, RH15 9NN.
• Tuesday 18 September, Selsey Library, School Lane, Selsey, PO20 9EH.
• Tuesday 16 October, Worthing Library, Richmond Road, Worthing, BN11 1HD.
• Tuesday 20 November, Crawley Library, Southgate Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6HG.
• Thursday 6 December, Henfield Library, off High Street, Henfield, BN5 9HN.