Attracting carers of all ethnicities and cultures to look after children and young people from a similar background is crucial to Foster4.

Living with a carer who understands a child’s customs, the type of food they like to eat and even how to do their hair can be hugely important to youngsters.

As part of black history month, which runs across the world throughout October, Foster4 is hoping to hear from more black people wishing to foster.

Ben, whose family hails from Nigeria, and his wife Miriam have been fostering with their local authority and Foster4 for the past two years.

Ben was feeling tired of his office job and wanted to do something where he felt like he was making a difference.

Ben said: “We thought about it for a little while and then went along to a coffee morning to find out more.

“After the meeting, we agreed to give it a try.

“The recruitment process was fairly straightforward.

“We attended the skills to foster training over three weekends and the social worker visited us about six times so we could work on our assessment report together.

“We’d spoken to our son, who was 14 at the time, beforehand, and the social worker involved him in the assessment process.”

Ben is keen to encourage others to start the enrolment process and become a foster carer.

He said: “I would encourage all members of the black community to consider fostering.

“Although it may feel like there are cultural barriers at first, the training you receive on trauma-informed approaches enables you to see things from the child’s point of view.

“You quickly become aware that the kind of ‘do as you’re told’ parenting that we might have been accustomed to, isn’t always the right thing for children who have experienced challenges in their short lives.

“You learn that the fostering regulations help to keep everyone safe and happy as well as providing each child with the best possible chance to thrive.”

For more information about fostering visit foster4.co.uk or call 01925 444100.

You can also email fosteringrecruitment@warrington.gov.uk or use @foster4cheshire on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Are you from an ethnic minority background and considering fostering?

Foster4 would love to hear from you.

The service has a small but growing number of black carers as well as carers from other ethnic minorities.

The carers all provide invaluable help and support for children and young people with similar backgrounds and they can also play a pivotal role in ensuring others understand the specific challenges faced by youngsters from the black community.

If you think you have the compassion, resilience and drive to make a difference to the lives of children and young people and you’d like to find out more about how Foster4 could support you in becoming a foster carer, then get in touch.

You can hear about the specific training the foster team delivers in order to promote equality, diversity and understanding.