DISCOVER more about fostering a child in need at Winwick Carnival this weekend.

Five Rivers Child Care, a social enterprise which operates across England, is holding a series of information events which includes setting up a stall at the annual festival in Winwick on Saturday.

The company is aiming to increase the number of foster carers for both long and short-term placements in the area over the next 12 months following an increase in the number of young people entering the care system.

Colette Abbiss, fostering operations manager for Five Rivers Child Care across the north of England, said: “There is an urgent need for Cheshire residents to step up to the challenge of foster care.

“Hundreds of children’s lives could be changed for the better by a loving, supporting home and foster family.

“By no means are we suggesting foster care is an easy choice to make.

“We understand that there are concerns and misconceptions around what it entails.

“We are here to bring clarity to the people of Cheshire and help them understand the difference they could make to the life of a young person.

“We are holding various information events over the coming weeks.

“These are a great opportunity to come down for an informal, no strings attached conversation about opportunities in foster care.”

To facilitate the expansion into Cheshire, Five Rivers Child Care has appointed former Warrington Borough County Council social worker Jayne Smith as a senior practitioner to recruit and support training foster carers across Cheshire and its neighbouring communities.

People from all walks of life can become foster carers as long as they are over 21 years of age.

This includes single people, co-habiting couples, same sex couples and people living in rented accommodation – the only requirement is a private bedroom for each foster child.

For more information on fostering with Five Rivers Child Care, visit five-rivers.org, call 0345 266 0272 or email carer.enquiries@five-rivers.org.