CARING people are needed to look after vulnerable children, especially those who have behavioural difficulties.

Waltham Forest Council needs to recruit 24 people who are interested in fostering and is holding two information sessions during Foster Care Fortnight.

The sessions will be held at the Epicentre in West Street, Leytonstone, on Tuesday between 6.30pm and 8.30pm, and Tuesday, May 18, between 10am and noon at South Chingford Congregational Church, Chingford Mount Road.

There will also be a fostering stand on Saturday, May 13, outside Asda in Selborne Walk shopping centre, Walthamstow, between 10am and 4pm.

The council's director of children's services, Chris Kiernan, said: "Fostering is a tremendously rewarding thing to do from an emotional point of view and people who foster also receive financial assistance to ensure they can provide a high quality of care for the child or young person they welcome into their home.

"I would urge residents who are interested in finding out more to come to one of the information sessions or give the fostering team a ring."

Foster carers tend to look after children temporarily while their own parents are unable to look after them.

Many fostered children will return to their own families when circumstances improve, although some will live with foster carers over a longer period while still keeping in contact with their parents.

Other respite foster carers will look after children for just a few days or a weekend once a month to give their parents a break.

Call the team on 8496 2479/2423 for more information.