We’ve all been horrified by the images on the news of innocent people, and children, becoming victims of war. It’s heart-warming to see how many people have already offered up their homes to support Ukrainians seeking refuge. More broadly, more foster carers and more homes are still needed, and more people will hopefully step forward.

We have a number of children who have fled war zones who need foster care already in Bristol now, and this number will grow when Ukrainian children arrive. Already 52 children from orphanages in Dnipro in Ukraine have arrived at their temporary new home in Scotland.

Welcoming children who have come from war zones isn’t always easy, and some children will arrive traumatised, needing a few weeks in a settled environment so they can find their feet. Others are more worldly then you can imagine, the things they’ve seen you wouldn’t expect an adult to cope with. But above all they are resilient, wonderful children, who need your help to find the joy in life again. You can make the world of difference to a child.

And of course we have lots of UK children who need homes. I am a foster carer myself, and the children I have cared for are not the only ones who benefit. It has totally changed my life for the better.

Foster caring doesn’t mean you have to give up work, stop going out, or have lots of space in your house. We need carers from all backgrounds and all walks of life. You don’t have to have children already, or be in a relationship, and some carers can only offer weekend respite cover for other foster carers who need a break. Fosters receive an allowance of up to £1,000 per child, per month, with additional payments available for fosters for whom these payments are their main source of income.

There is no typical foster child. And there is no typical foster carer. If you’ve ever wondered about it, then call us on 0117 353 4200 or visit our website to find out more. If you think you can’t do it, then call us anyway – we can give you all the information before you rule it out. There are so many children, who deserve so much better than the hand they have been dealt. Please help us, to help them.