A TREDEGAR foster mum is backing a new campaign to tackle the severe shortage of foster carers in Wales.

Sue Brittain began fostering six years ago, but she is one of only a small number of foster carers desperately needed in Wales.

Barnardo’s Fostering and Adoption week, which launches today, will highlight that Wales is currently short of 750 foster carers, and only two in ten people have ever considered fostering a child.

Since the death of Baby Peter there has been a dramatic rise in applications for children to be taken into care as social workers and members of the public try to prevent another tragedy, and this has also increased demand for foster carers.

Barnardo's say the resulting shortage amounts to a crisis.

Ms Brittain, 52, and her partner Michael Bond, 58, decided to become foster parents six years ago after taking care of a family member’s children during a family crisis.

The couple, whose own grown up children had left home, enjoyed looking after the youngsters so much they decided to volunteer as foster carers with National Children’s Homes.

They have since looked after two long-term foster children over the age of 12, both of whom now live independently.

Ms Brittain described how fostering can give children from difficult backgrounds an important sense of stability and is also very rewarding for the foster parent.

"You get an extended family and more people to love in life," she said. "And it's great to see the children have a chance to go and make something of themselves afterwards."

Although the couple are not currently supporting a long-term foster child, they are also paid respite carers for Barnardo's Cymru.

This full time role, for which Ms Britton gave up her job with Abingdon Flooring, saw the couple move from their home in Cwm to a specially adapted house in Tredegar where they provide weekend respite care for nine disabled children from Blaenau Gwent each month.

Ms Britton urged anyone thinking about any kind of foster care not to hesitate. "Just go for it. It was the best thing we have ever done."

To find out more about fostering visit www.barnardos.org.uk/fosteringandadoption

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Special parents

WE fully support the drive launched today to get more people interested in foster care.

Wales is currently short of 750 foster carers, and only two in ten people have ever considered fostering a child.

The tragic death of Baby P has also led to a rise in the number of children in foster care as more people are reporting suspected cases of abuse or neglect.

It takes a special person to become a foster parent.

They play such a vital role and can make a difference to a child's life and the path they take in the future.

We know it's not for everyone but if you have at least considered fostering then now may be the time to pick up the phone and make some further inquiries.