The council's fostering team is going out and about with three ‘meet the people' information events to mark Fostering Fortnight from 17 to 30 May.

You can meet the team and get answers to any questions you may have about fostering on:

• Monday 17 May from 9am to 2pm at Sainsbury's West Hove branch - ‘drop-in' session
• Tuesday 25 May from 7pm to 9pm at Church House, 211 New Church Road, Hove - information session with current foster carers also on hand to answer questions
• Saturday 29 May from 9am to 2pm at the Holmbush Centre in Shoreham - ‘drop-in' session.

Fostering means giving a safe, caring home to children and young people who've had a difficult start in life.

In some cases brothers and sisters from the same family get taken into the council's care at the same time. So the fostering team is particularly keen to meet people interested in looking after sibling groups.

The team also works with new parents who for whatever reason are finding it difficult to look after their baby - so they need people who can look after a parent and their baby.

They are also hoping to recruit more carers for older children, and for children from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Fostering can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. And the financial allowances that are available - of up to £1,400 per month for every teenager that you foster - can make it a real alternative to normal paid work.

You can foster if you are single, married or living with someone. The council's fostering team welcomes interest from all sections of the community.

If you can't make it along to one of our information sessions, please see here for further information or phone the council's fostering team for a friendly chat on 01273 295444.