Some of Manchester’s busiest streets will be privy to childhood snaps of New Dr Who star Peter Capaldi.
The former The Thick of It star is among a host of celebrities who have shared their most cherished childhood snaps to front a new drive to recruit more foster carers by the charity Barnados.
It is part of a campaign seeking to call on members of the public to consider becoming foster parents and help create happy childhood memories for some of the most vulnerable youngsters.The charity says that more than 8,600 foster carers are urgently needed in the UK and has persuaded some of Britain’s most famous faces including actors Dame Helen Mirren and Joanna Lumley, Twiggy, Amanda Holden, Nicola Roberts and Russell Howard to reveal some candid images and stories from school days, summer holidays and family life.
Brenda Farrell, head of fostering and adoption at Barnardo’s, said: “Without the right foster family to care for them, many vulnerable children may never experience the love and stability they so desperately need and happy memories will remain a distant dream.
“We are truly grateful that so many household names are helping us to broadcast our plea for people to consider becoming foster parents.Currently a third of all children in foster care are moved between different families more than twice every year due to the lack of suitable foster carers.The number of children in the care system in the UK has risen for the seventh year in a row to more than 90,000 and at least 8,600 new foster carers are needed in the UK .”
He added that:
“It is a critical situation and Barnardo’s is looking for people with patience and commitment to provide a stable home for the most vulnerable children in the UK. Fostering is a caring career and I would encourage those who feel they have a lot of love to give to get in touch.”
The charity is particularly keen to speak to older people with life experience, whether they are parents themselves or not.There is no upper age limit although there is a minimum age of 21. Barnardo’s does not exclude anyone from consideration on the grounds of marital status, gender, sexual orientation, disability or employment status.
Manchester has been chosen along with London and Glasgow to launch the campaign.
