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Cumbria Council is trying to recruit foster carers by advertising for them on buses.

For the past month, buses in Barrow in Furness have been carrying a message urging people to consider becoming parents for the 60 children in council care waiting to be fostered. It is asking for them to "take 60 seconds to think about fostering and whether they could give a permanent home to a child in need".

The campaign highlights the shortage of foster carers in the country - the Fostering Network estimates a shortfall of about 8,000 - and the lengths some councils are prepared to go to find new carers.


The council believes many potential foster carers are worried that they would find it difficult to give up the child. Its campaign aims to highlight the fact that some children need long-term fostering.

It is offering weekly allowances of between £93 for under-fours to £168 for over-16s.