FOR many foster carers looking after children isn't a livelihood it's a labour of love.

It is nearly nine years since Kat Atack, from Idle, became a foster carer. Before that she says she'd had numerous jobs, working in offices and schools, but it was being asked by her neighbour to do some fostering respite that introduced Kat to her rewarding career.

She explains how as she going through the process to help provide respite, Kat decided she would become a foster carer.

"At first it was respite. They came for two days or two weeks and then they would go home," explains Kat.

"And I really, really enjoyed it."

Kat estimates she has cared for around 60 children ranging from birth to 18 since she began fostering.

The longest she has fostered one child is two years - and the key is 'to treat them as your own,' adds Kat.

Even those who have long since left her care; including two who she helped to get into university accompanying them to interviews, have kept in touch and are now part of Kat's extended family.

The 48-year-old lives with her 55-year-old partner Matt Capel who, although he works during the week, is hands-on helping Kat with her foster caring during the weekend. Between them the couple have three children. Kat has a daughter and a grandchild.

She admits while it can be challenging, fostering is also an extremely rewarding role.

"It is quite a long process and quite in-depth, but these children need somewhere to go and it flows after that," explains Kat.

One of the most rewarding elements of the role is seeing the children settled and helping them to turn their lives around.

"I have a strict discipline in the house, 'please,' 'thank you' they have to be in at a certain time. There are definite boundaries," says Kat.

But the rewards are satisfying.... "When they are settled that is a good thing for me. You can tell when they are settled because they act like it's home. They accept you and they know you have accepted them."

Kat and Matt, who both love motorbikes, enjoy the fun fostering can bring. Kat recalls a camping trip near Malham.

"It was absolutely fabulous, it was a real laugh," she recalls.

Now Kat hopes to encourage others to follow in her footsteps and take up fostering.

During Foster Care Fortnight (May 8 to 21) the independent foster care agency, Foster Care Associates, raised the issue of a fostering crisis.

According to the organisation, in 2016, 2,647 children and young people were referred to FCA from local authorities in the North West, many in urgent need of a foster family.

More than 7,000 new foster families are needed in the next 12 months alone to care for a range of children, with the greatest need being for foster carers for older children, sibling groups, disabled children and unaccompanied asylum seeking children - according to Fostering Network.

There are varied and often complex reasons why children are going into care relating to issues such as family illness.

In 2016 the number of children in foster care continued to rise. According to the Department for Education, of the 70,440 looked after children at March 31 2016, 51,850 were cared for in foster placements, hence the need for more foster families.

While the needs of children and young people can be complex, foster carers are supported with access to training and expert help.

Mark Cartridge, operations director at FCA North West, said: “Many people would love to foster but they believe that their personal circumstances, or skills and experience, would prevent them from doing so. Whether you’re single, over 50, childless or in a same sex relationship, fostering could be for you, so we’re encouraging people to make that initial enquiry."

Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s biggest foster care awareness raising campaign. Established for more than 20 years, the campaign showcases the commitment, passion and dedication of foster carers.

It also supports fostering services to highlight the need for more foster carers.

For more info visit thefca.co.uk, call 0800 022 4330 or email startyourjourney@thefca.co.uk.