THURROCK Council's recently appointed portfolio holder for education has been a keen supporter of the authority's fostering programme and he has opened his heart the Thurrock Nub News about why it is so important to him.

He talks frankly of the tragic circumstances that led to him, as a teenager, being fostered.

And he was speaking after a month long sequence of activities by the council's fostering team to encourage local people to become foster parents.

Cllr Carter, who represents Chadwell St Mary, told Nub News: "When I was a child, who had turned 16 about a week beforehand, I received news that would turn my world upside down.

My mother had taken her own life earlier that evening. With no father in the picture the outlook was bleak.

"However, I had an offer through Thurrock Council to go into a foster home.

"At the time I was pretty numb and just seemed to go along with whatever was presented to me but I was aware enough to realise this was probably an outcome that offered more stability than sofa surfing with the best friends a man could have ever asked for.

"Although hesitant to engage with the system at that age this placement was the best place for me at the time. Had I gone into a home for looked after children I may not of had the space I needed to grieve.

"My foster carer was simply amazing, able to engage me when I was welcoming to it but also very respectful of my own space.

"To put it simply I would have turned out very differently in life had I not had this time filled with care. With time and a magnificent foster carer I was able to overcome the difficulties life had thrown my way.

"Trust was restored in others and I was well set for the future. It was during this time I began to take an interest in politics, although I couldn't of seen myself standing for election at this time.

"The relationships built by foster carers with their looked after children can be described as nothing short of extraordinary. There exists a real opportunity to shape the future for a young, vulnerable child to do anything they want to do. The sky truly is the limit with the right foster carer. My foster Carer helped me learn the skills I needed to succeed in life and I can trace a lot of what I've done to my time in care.

"Instability is by far the most harmful thing for a child entering care, not knowing where your home is, not feeling any security in life and wondering if you will be able to cope as an adult.

"These are very normal feelings and a relationship built between a foster carer and a child is the answer to this. It's no secret that children who leave the system via foster care placements are significantly more likely to lead happier and healthier life than those who have gone through care homes.

Cllr Adam Carter is passionate about fostering and the change it can make to young people's lives

"Herein lies the issue though…There simply are not enough foster carers.

"Thurrock Council's wonderful Foster Recruitment team are doing everything they can to attract more people interested in fostering. Be it the generous waiver for council tax (our foster carers do not pay council tax) or a support package that is very competitive while entering a wonderful community of Thurrock's foster carers who support each other.

"As recently shown on Thurrock Nub News there was a great deal of promotional work during May, and particularly foster care recruitment fortnight.

"There are a huge number of events you can pop along to and see if this is something that would interest you. Thurrock needs more foster carers to provide the best start in life possible for our looked after children in this borough. These wonderful people change lives everyday, and you could to!

"If you have ever been interested in Fostering please call a member of the team and have a chat, if it's not for you it's not for you.

"However there is a committed team that want to ensure you have all the tools to succeed please get in touch."

There are more events scheduled, including Saturday 24 June, 10am to 11:30am; Friday 7 July, 10am to midday and Thursday 25 July, 6pm to 8pm.

You can find out more about fostering in Thurrock and the meeting via this link.