PEOPLE in Hampshire are being urged to come forward and change vulnerable children’s lives as it was revealed there has been a big rise in the number of youngsters living in foster care.

Children’s charity Barnardo’s has issued an appeal after figures showed there has been a 46 per cent rise in the number children living in foster care in Southampton over the past five years.

The charity’s figures show 410 children are currently being fostered in the city, with Barnardo’s saying this could be due to factors such as abuse or neglect.

It comes after the Daily Echo revealed that there had been a big rise in the number of children being looked after by the council, which has shot up to 627 from 472 in 2012-13.

That rise has left the council with a predicted overspend of £4m in the children’s services budget for this year and council leaders are saying they will “struggle” to continue to meet rising demand.

The city already has a higher than average number of children in care, and the Daily Echo has backed a major campaign to find permanent homes for some of the city’s most vulnerable youngsters.

It is not the only place in the country to experience a rise in the number of children who need to be looked after – Barnardo’s estimates that 8,370 foster families are needed across the country to meet the demand.

The charity has called on any interested people in Hampshire to come forward and give some of the city’s vulnerable children a new life.

A spokesman said: “Loving foster care is crucial to giving vulnerable children the happy home they so desperately need and deserve.

"However, too many never experience this, because there simply aren’t enough foster carers to go around to care for the most vulnerable youngsters.

“Single or in a couple, black or white, same-sex or heterosexual – we are asking Southampton’s would-be carers to come forward and help change a child’s life.”

The appeal is also being backed by Debbie Douglas, one of the stars of reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex, who has fostered more than 250 children.

She said: “Fostering has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things I’ve done in my life. I’ve had so much joy from watching vulnerable children blossom and thrive when they are in my care.

“I know from being a mum that every child deserves the best start in life. You don’t have to have any special skills to foster, just be able to offer a child a loving home.”