YEAR-ON-YEAR increases in the numbers of children coming into care has highlighted an urgent need for more people to become foster carers.

In 2012/13 there were 222 new cases of children entering the care system in Kirklees, which covers areas such as Cleckheaton, Scholes, Birkenshaw and Heckmondwike. In 2013/14 this rose to 259 and in 2014/15, numbers have reached 266.

For the majority of these children, short-term foster care is required until they are able to return to their families. But some face a more uncertain future and need to be fostered long-term. Unless enough foster families can be found locally, children face being moved out of their area.

Foster carer Rachel Waite, of Heckmondwike, knows firsthand the difference a loving home can make. She was looked after by foster carers from the age of ten months and was eventually adopted by her carers, aged 13.

Now 44, Rachel and her husband, Justin, have been fostering for 12 years with Kirklees Council and have looked after children for varying lengths of time on a short-term and respite basis.

“Despite looking different to them - I’m mixed race whereas they’re both white British - I was never made to feel any different and always felt loved, wanted and part of the family," says Rachel.

“Justin and I had always intended to have two children then adopt a third. But because of my background we were encouraged to give fostering a try first. Children have come to us from a few weeks to several years, including some with physical and behavioural issues.

“We once looked after a baby who was unable to make eye contact or smile. We spent many hours talking to him reassuringly, making sure he was our main focus. In a matter of weeks we got the smiles and eye contact you’d expect from a child his age.

“Another child had attachment issues and knew virtually no boundaries. He was overweight, suffered from asthma and had behavioural problems. With understanding, support and adjustments such as diet and exercise, we saw rapid improvements to his physical and emotional wellbeing.”

Having fostered for several years, Rachel and Justin seized the opportunity to foster a child long-term.

“We’d been providing short-term care for one boy for four years. He’d never really known life without us and our sons had grown particularly close to him. They were devastated at the prospect of him moving on, it was at that point that we knew we could never let him go. So we decided to foster him on a long-term basis, which means he’ll have a home with us for however long he needs us."

While Justin works in a garage, he's involved in the foster care at home, and the couple's sons, Alex and Gabriel, are also hands-on.

“Now aged 15 and 19, our sons have grown into wonderful, caring individuals, which I believe is due largely to being part of a foster family," says Rachel, who is appealing to others to consider fostering.

“There are many reasons why children go into care. In my case, being born out of wedlock to mixed parents meant my birth mum was under immense pressure and felt she had no choice but to place me into care," she says. “Back then things were different and thankfully times have changed. But without my adoptive family things might have turned out very differently.

“Children entering the care system today are no different to how I was; they too need and deserve the best possible start to life."

Paul Johnson, Kirklees Council’s Assistant Director - Family Support and Child Protection, said: “No child asks to be put into care and for those who are it is confusing and upsetting. We need more foster families like the Waites dedicated to providing these children with the love and support they need when they're at their most vulnerable.

“Without enough local foster carers children have to be moved away; leaving behind their friends and in many cases, moving schools. In some cases children are placed in residential homes."

“Last year we successfully matched over 70 children with long-term foster families. But with a rising number of children coming into care, we urgently need long-term foster carers for 45 children this year. We’re also looking for people who can provide stable homes on a short-term basis, including older children and sibling groups.”

* For more about being a foster carer call 0800 389 0086 or visit kirklees.gov.uk/fostering