FOSTER carers are being sought in North Yorkshire to play a vital part in shaping the future of young people.

Though the search is on throughout the county, it is being focused particularly on the Ryedale area, with a full range of foster carers needed.

These include task-centred and respite foster carers, and permanent and specialist foster carers.

Task-centred fostering provides alternative family care and security for children and teenagers who need to live apart from their families for a few weeks or months.

Respite fostering can help families under stress by providing short-term breaks for a child in foster care, perhaps occasional weekends. This can prevent family breakdowns.

Some children need to live apart from their parents permanently because there are difficulties within their family. When children need to live with a permanent new family adoption would always be considered first.

However, for some children this is not appropriate and permanent foster care is a way of providing stability and security for children until they can live independently.

John Heron, social services group manager in North Yorkshire, said: "Foster carers receive financial help to cover the costs of looking after a child and there is always professional training, practical support and regular advice on hand to help people.

"There is no doubt that people need patience, tolerance and energy to become foster carers. They also need to be able to provide the space and the time to share with a child. And a sense of humour always helps.

"People should remember that they don't have to be married or in a relationship, or have children of their own, although some experience is very useful.

"And to be a foster carer you can be single, a little older, living in a rented house or out of work. These things don't stand against you."

For further information call any time on 0800-3892362 or drop in for a chat with officers at: Pickering Memorial Hall on Thursday, July 3, from 10am to 4pm, or at Community House, Wentworth Street, Malton on Friday, July 4, from 10am to 4pm.

Updated: 09:56 Tuesday, July 01, 2003