Wiltshire Council’s fostering team has been out in Trowbridge hoping to catch families on their half-term holidays to speak to them about fostering.

A recruitment support officer and social worker were at Trowbridge Sports Centre on Monday, October 28, providing information about the county’s need for foster carers.

An assistant team manager at Wiltshire Council, Rachel Pearce, said they were looking for people from “all walks of life”.

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Foster carers for babies aged up to twelve months don't necessarily need a spare room, just space for a cot.Foster carers for babies aged up to twelve months don't necessarily need a spare room, just space for a cot. (Image: Getty) She said: “We’ve got a stand where we know there will be footfall, so that way we can get our message out there and be seen.”

Ms Pearce explained they were hoping to “maximise” who they see and “break down the myths” around fostering.

Residents must be at least 21 years old, have a spare bedroom and be able to drive to foster a child.

Ms Pearce said: “Nationally, there is a shortage across the country of foster carers.”

She added: “Wiltshire is so rural, we are such a big county.

“We try to keep children local to their homes which means we always need foster carers in Wiltshire because it is so large.”

According to her, you don’t have to be a “superhero” to foster a child, you just need to be “open to learning and working with the local authority and the parents” and open to “being patient”.