Would-be foster parents are being put off by “fake news” and persistent myths – despite an urgent need for more families across the North East.

That’s the warning from Changing Futures North East, a leading not-for-profit fostering agency helping children across Teesside and County Durham find homes.

The agency’s fostering manager, Sarah Richardson, said misconceptions about who can – and can’t foster – is stopping potential fosterers from even enquiring.

“We speak to so many people who rule themselves out before they even pick up the phone,” admits Sarah.

“There’s a lot of swirling misinformation about who can and can’t foster, which is basically fake news but the sad thing is, it is stopping children from finding potentially brilliant families.”

It comes as figures reveal that the North East has more children in care than any other region in the country.

Approximately one in every 83 children are looked after, with Hartlepool – where Changing Futures North East is based – having the third highest rate of any town or city.

Nationally, there are not enough fostering families for the growing number of children in local authority care.

Yet despite the fostering shortfall, Sarah said there’s a “hidden army” of potential fostering families that could fill that gap – but many wrongly believe they wouldn’t be eligible.

“So many potential applicants are put off before they’ve even started their fostering journey, because they don’t own their home or because they are single.

“Yet many of our carers rent, and you don’t have to be in a relationship – or even have your own children already.

“The most important thing is the ability to provide care and stability – and to be able to offer some TLC.

“It also doesn’t matter how you identify either, people can apply from all backgrounds, and crucially, you don’t have to stop working.

“Yes, there’s financial support, but so many carers continue to work flexibly alongside fostering – just like in traditional families.”

Sarah added that “busting myths” is key to helping more children stay close to their communities.

In some cases, children who can’t be housed in their home region can be sent hundreds of miles away from their friends and loved ones – which Sarah said can be simply “shattering” for a young person.

“There are children locally who need safe, caring homes,” she added.

“If people are interested but unsure, we’d always encourage them to have a conversation because they might be surprised at how possible fostering really is.”

For more information, please visit https://www.changingfuturesne.co.uk/