CARERS from across the county are celebrating the success of the Dorset Foster Carer Association’s summer fete.

The fete, held on the Great Field in Poundbury, included a tombola, cake stall, bouncy castle and entertainment from Puddletown Ukulele Group, Andy the Magic Man and the local Allsort’d Choir.

Just over £465 was raised on the day which will be used to help launch a website for DFCA as well as helping support fostering families and future events.

Kayleigh Barguss, a DFCA committee member, said: “We are really happy with the success of the fete and thank everyone for their support with donations and their attendance on the day.

“We hold events like this to make sure we have a chance to chat to each other as well as to raise a bit of money and to show other people just how important foster carers are.

“I would also like to thank Risk Stop in Dorchester who gave us a financial donation towards the fete and the paramedics who were there in case we needed any first aid at the event.”

Representatives from the fostering team at Dorset Council were also on hand to answer any questions that people had about fostering.

Louise Drury, Head of Service for Children in Care and Care Leavers which includes fostering, said:

"It’s great to see such a lively event which is spreading the word about fostering.

"We always need more foster carers, particularly to look after sibling groups or older children, so I’d really encourage anyone that has ever thought about fostering to get in touch and find out more."

Deborah Fenegan helps provide supported lodgings for people aged 18 to 25. She said it helps provide young people with ‘the next step towards independence’ and added:

"A lot of young people who have been with foster carers as children need a helping hand with basic skills such as budgeting so that when they move on they can cope on their own.

"I’d encourage everyone to think about whether they could become a provider and host a young person in their home as it is really rewarding."