Fostering is crucial to supporting families and keeping them together.

But a national shortage means an extra 7,000 foster carers, from all walks of life, are needed to ensure children are properly cared for.

Last month, a Government campaign to recruit the extra foster carers was launched.

The Fostering Network is a £2 million joint venture between the Government and leading advisory board, the National Foster Care Association (NFCA).

The campaign includes a national helpline and a dedicated website, where people can find out more about fostering. A large scale advertising campaign will also be launched in September.

When the network was launched, NFCA executive director, Gerri McAndrew, pointed to the "damaging shortage of foster carers" being reported by all local councils, which she said was having "a real, detrimental effect on our children's lives".

Sutton Council is keen to point out that it has a wonderful group of experienced foster carers looking after some children in its care system. But it still needs more people willing to give children and young people a stable and secure home environment.

A spokesman said: "In Sutton, we want to recruit more foster carers, from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds, in order to meet the diverse needs of the children and young people in our care."

As the council points out, fostering is not an entirely selfless act.

"Foster carers are not a charity, they are individuals looking after children and young people and are paid an appropriate remuneration.

"Sutton's rates of pay are currently higher than some other local authorities and are comparable with private agencies."

Fostering provides a safety net for children who can't live with their own families. Most children and young people in foster care do eventually return home - two out of three youngsters return within six months.

In keeping with Sutton Council's message, the emphasis of the Fostering Network campaign is that anyone from any background may be eligible to foster - as long as they have the experience and skills to work effectively with young people.

A foster carer can be from any racial or religious background and could be single or married.

Needless to say, carers must have the patience to see the young through a difficult time in their lives and should have a genuine concern for the safety and well-being of children.

But there is no specific set of criteria that makes someone the ideal foster carer.

Sutton super-mum, Cynthia Herbert knows as much as anyone possibly could about being a foster parent.

She has lost count of the number of children and young people she has cared for over the last 16 years, but says it runs into hundreds.

At present she looks after three foster children - aged eight, seven and three - as well as her own three children.

Cynthia has looked after about 50 children on a long-term - or "task-centered" - basis. She says those that stay for less time provide a different challenge.

"I've got a lot of grey hairs thanks to fostering! But I feel I've got a lot to give and they've given me a lot.

"It's great when a child has come in screwed up and leaves well-adjusted, having been given a bit of a taste for family life - some of them don't have that for one reason or another.

"I have done emergency fostering where children have come straight from the police station at three in the morning.

"But I prefer task-centred stays, where I have a number of tasks to carry out. It really helps the children.

"You're able to do a lot more work with them, which is better than when you know you've only got 72 hours with them."

If that wasn't enough to keep her busy, Cynthia has somehow managed to find time to go back to college.

In June, she won an award from the Sutton College of Liberal Arts (SCOLA) in recognition of her ability to juggle her hectic lifestyle with her studies in Learning Support.

Cynthia first became a carer because of a desire to work with children and because she was always surrounded by children from her neighbourhood.

She has some simple advice for those who may be considering applying to be foster parent.

"Think long and hard about it before you get into it. It's not just about loving them and treating them like your own. There's so many different things that you've got to do.

"You must have a lot of patience and a lot of understanding. Sometimes you've got to be prepared to forget about yourself and to put your own needs on the back-burner, although it is important to make time for yourself."

oTo find out more, call Fostering Network on freephone 08000 965 985 or visit www.fosteringnetwork.co.uk.

Ten steps to fostering

Call the Fostering Network on 08000 965 985 for an information pack, read it and think things through. Talk things over with relatives and friends and remember, fostering will involve all household members. If you want to apply, fill in the expression of interest form and your details will be sent on to the council.

The council will send you its specific information about the local fostering service and you could be invited to an information event.

Initial discussions with the council to assess suitability. You must complete a detailed questionnaire about the members of your household.

With your permission, police checks will be carried out and you may be asked for proof of identity. You may also be asked to have a health check.

Preparation sessions will be held to find out about foster care in more depth. You will be given the opportunity to meet experienced foster carers.

A social worker will be assigned to you to help with your assessment.

The social worker will meet with you regularly to discuss the needs of fostered children. The council will take up your references.

The social worker writes a report based on information about you.

The local fostering panel will consider the report and either approves your application or does not approve it.

If your application is approved, you will receive more information and some training opportunities. A child or young person is placed with you. Congratulations! You have become a foster carer.