PEOPLE in Ealing are being urged to consider adopting or fostering a child.

There are currently around 20 children in the borough, from a range of ethnic backgrounds and religions, who are waiting for adoptive families to come forward.

The situation is said to mirror the national picture, with most of of those looking for adoptive families being of black or mixed-race origins.

The majority are aged between two and seven, and more than half are in groups with brothers and sisters who need to be placed together.

Some of the children may have a kind of special need or disability.

All the children would benefit from a stable and loving home.

Cabinet member for Children and Young People, Cllr Patricia Walker, said: “Many children waiting to be adopted have had a very difficult start in life and are now waiting for the right person to come along and give them a second chance.

“Adoption is a life-long commitment that should be taken very seriously, and I encourage anyone who has ever thought about adopting to come forward and find out more.

“There is no such thing as a typical adoptive family and the council welcomes interest from all kinds of people, including single, gay and lesbian and older people.”

To mark the recent National Adoption Week, David Cameron launched a Give A Child A Home campaign across the UK.

It describes adoption and fostering as “two of the most challenging and rewarding things you can do”.

Adopter Lisa Faulkner says on the campaign website: “As an adoptive mother I know how amazing it is to be able to become a parent through adoption. Adopting my daughter has been the most fulfilling and rewarding experience of my life.

“I urge anyone who has space in their hearts and in their homes for a child to find out more about adoption.”

The launch came as the Government published adoption league tables, naming and shaming the councils in England which lag behind when it comes to finding adoptive families.

Figures for 2008-10 show 69% of adopted children under the age of 16 in Ealing have stayed in the same placement for at least two and a half years. The national average is 66%.

Today, there are 65,520 children in care across the UK. In 2010, 3,050 children were adopted in England – an 8% drop since 2007.

Mr Cameron said: “It is shocking that, of the 3,600 children under the age of one in care, only 60 were adopted last year – this is clearly not good enough.”

He added: “People who foster and adopt make a fantastic difference to a child’s life, and there are children waiting for families right now.”

Ealing Council regularly holds adoption and fostering information events at the town hall, on the first Monday of the month. The next meeting will be on Monday, November 7 at 7.30pm.

Anyone who is interested in fostering or adoption is encouraged to go along.

There will also be a special event to encourage more people to come forward to adopt black or mixed-race children. This will be at the town hall on Monday, November 14, 6.30pm.

You c an contact Ealing’s Fostering and Adoption service on 0800 731 6550 or email fosteradopt@ealing.gov.uk to book a space.