'We thought we were too young to be foster carers'

Rebecca and Luke hope to break down myths surrounding foster carers

A couple who believed they were too young to become foster carers have told how they want to dispel the common misconceptions to help tackle the shortage of care.

Luke and Rebecca opened up their home aged 28 and 29 - but when they first considered fostering two years earlier they had assumed they would not meet the criteria.

"We did think that maybe you had to be older and you had to have the experience of having children of your own but, as we looked into it, we realised we could actually do it," said Luke.

The couple, from Preston, decided to share their story as Lancashire County Council appeals for more people to foster.

"We talked about it on and off for years, but it was always what if we couldn't do it," said Rebecca.

"I always wanted to work full-time. I wanted a career and I didn't know how that would fit and I didn't know it was possible.

"We didn't think we'd be allowed to keep a job down but that's not the case."

According to Lancashire County Council, age is just one of many reasons people believe they will be prevented from becoming a foster carer.

Currently, the average age for foster carers is 55, but anyone over the age of 21 can sign up.

Your sexuality, marital status, and whether you own a home also do not determine your suitability as a foster carer.

Tarah-Joy Baines, practice manager for Barnardo's North West Fostering Service, said: "There is on average 300 children that are referred to us every single week needing a safe home, a space place to live and just to have a chance of a happy childhood."

Tarah-Joy Baines is among those calling for more people to come forward to foster

According to the latest government data, there was a 4% drop in foster carers in the north-west England in the last year.

That is why tackling these misconceptions is more important than ever.

Rebecca, 30, and Luke, 29, said they decided to share their experiences as they wanted to encourage others to open up their homes to children in the care system.

"One of the main reasons I wanted to do it was to give kids a proper childhood," said Luke.

"We've taken him to the zoo and just seen his face light up meeting Santa.

"It's lovely to see the world through his eyes and have these experiences and share them with him."

Paula and Peter, who have been fostering children for about 14 years, also hope to encourage others to sign up.

Paula, pictured with Peter, said you needed a "home and a heart" to foster

They have fostered just under nine children over the past decade and a half.

"It's not easy. There is additional work to do because there's more people in the house, more washing, more people to feed," said Paula.

"But it's like Pete said, it's about giving them opportunities they've not had before.

"Things that your children would just take for granted."

"It's so rewarding," said Pete.

'Safety and nurture'

Last year, Lancashire became one of nine regions across the UK to open the Foster With Us Hub.

The aim is for local authorities to work together to recruit, share resources and provide more support for foster carers.

In turn, it is hoped more people will be willing and able to foster.

"We're not asking for superheroes, we're not asking for perfect parents," said Danielle McMahon, from Blackpool Fostering.

"We need people that are willing to open up their homes and provide safety and nurture to our children."