Melinda Messenger Refs: 77418-40SWINDON'S most famous mum has urged people to become foster carers.

And fostering might not be far off for Melinda Messenger, as she used Fostering Fortnight to find out more about how to become a carer herself.

Melinda, who has three children of her own, met foster carers and family placement workers as Swindon Council tried to recruit more carers.

"I do desperately want to become a foster carer," she told the Adver yesterday.

"It is something I have wanted to do for many years.

"I have never been sure how to go about it and was slightly concerned about the logistics of it.

"I am like a lot of people I would love to do it but I am not sure how.

"I think I am quite a classic example."

So Melinda, who lives near Purton, took the opportunity of the event to learn more about what's involved.

"It was great meeting the other carers to know you are given so much support and not thrown in at the deep end," she said. "It is a gift. You get so much more than you will give.

"Yes there will be trying times but the joy and the love far outweigh that.

"The reward is knowing you have made that little difference."

Carer Julie Lowe agreed fostering is a great experience.

Mrs Lowe, 42, of Wanborough, has daughters aged 12 and nine and has been fostering for 18 months.

She currently has two boys with her, aged 14-months and three.

"I love being a mum," she said. "My girls are growing up and I was beginning to feel a bit redundant.

"With younger ones you still feel like you are doing something worthwhile because they are so precious."

After 13 years Myrtle Williams is more of a veteran of foster caring and has cared for so many children she cannot remember the total number.

The 69-year-old had seven children of her own but they are grown up and she is a widow so she says the children keep her busy.

"I am in a big three-bedroom house on my own," she said. "The children keep me company.

"I would encourage other people to do it. You are helping somebody."

The council wants to increase the number of foster carers on its books so it can make better matches of children to carers.

"It isn't just about beds for bodies," said Graham Senior, family placement team manager. "It is about choice. It is about recognising that every child who comes into care has their own individual needs and foster carers have their own skills. To make the best match possible it is important to have a choice.

"At the moment we are just able to hold our own but we don't like to only have one place to put a child."

Mr Senior stressed that anyone can be a foster carer, with the only automatic disqualifier being a criminal offence against a child.

There are currently 140 carers on the books and the council is hoping to recruit another 40.

For more information, call 01793 465700, email familyplacement@swindon.gov.uk or log on to the council's website at www.swindon.gov.uk

Melinda Messenger website