A drive to find potential foster carers for disabled youngsters and children of asylum seekers is underway in Croydon as part of an annual recruitment campaign.

This year Croydon Council's social services is especially appealing to people who think they could care for children with disabilities and children from Africa and Eastern Europe because of a shortage of carers for these groups of youngsters.

To entice more people into the calling, potential carers are invited to attend a special information day at the Town Hall on Katharine Street this Saturday (March 15) from 10am.

Croydon social services hope the meeting will encourage at least 30 potential foster parents to come forward, to make up for the shortfall.

Councillor Paula Shaw, Croydon's cabinet member for social services, is concerned that the lack of foster carers means children are being sent out of the borough to receive care.

She said: "We want to make sure Croydon children requiring foster care get the love and attention they need within the borough."

Currently there is a shortage of 7,800 foster parents across the UK, and at least 30 new foster parents are needed in the Croydon borough.

Unlike adoption, fostering offers children and young people a home without cutting them off completely from the biological parents. Many foster children will return to their original home, while others will remain in contact with their parents despite being in long term foster care.

The council recognises that becoming a first time foster carer may seem daunting, but there is financial and supervising support available. Anyone wanting more information can call 0800 389 0129.