Barnados is calling on Asian families to come forward and provide loving foster care for some of the country's most vulnerable children.

Currently, more than eight per cent of the UK population is Asian, yet only four per cent of foster carers come from this background.

Barnardo’s is calling on Asian would-be foster carers to come forward and give vulnerable children loving care that is as diverse and special as they are.

Barnardo’s has identified Lancashire, where 5 per cent of the population is Asian, as one of the areas that would most benefit from having more Asian foster carers as last year, only 3 per cent of approved foster carers in Lancashire were from Asian backgrounds.

Mr and Mrs Kaur, expressed why they chose to be foster carers and why they want to challenge the negative perceptions of fostering that stem from culture.

Mr Kaur said: “Our children have grown up, and are now adults. I have retired from the police force.

“My wife and I had some free time on our hands and we wanted to give something back. Through my job as a police officer, I used to see a lot of vulnerable children who were at risk. I wanted to help them.

“My wife and I are British Sikh.

“I know there have been a few campaigns calling for more Sikh/Asian foster carers, but we weren’t thinking specifically about the backgrounds of the children, we just wanted to do something to help.

“Particularly within Asian culture, fostering is traditionally looked upon quite negatively. A lot of Asian families don’t necessarily understand what fostering is really about.

“Fostering is definitely worth it.

“You get to see the children become happier, more confident, and less withdrawn.”

“It’s nice to see a smile on their face, and watch their character develop. You get to see these children, who have often had a tough time, become children again, able to play instead of worrying about things.

“You’ve also got to be prepared. Some of the stuff the children in your care may have experienced can be very shocking. You’ve got to remember that if you can make a change, even a small change, this can make a huge difference to a child’s life.”

Mrs Kaur added, “The little girl we looked after was Arab. We were very careful to ensure she only ate halal meat, and we also set aside a special area where she could pray.

“I even used my iPhone to work out which direction she needed to pray towards.

“We’ve found that our parenting skills from raising our own children have been a huge asset.

“Having more foster carers from black and Asian backgrounds can help to change the perception of our community. For example, we looked after brothers from a white British background for two years, and staying in our family has changed their perception of the Asian community.

“It’s also important to have more foster carers from Asian backgrounds because some communities may be well placed to understand the children in their care. Children can be happier with culture, food and languages, and processes around religion.”

Barnardo’s Chief Executive, Javed Khan (pictured) said, “Children in Lancashire reflect the city’s hugely diverse population. It’s crucial that we can offer foster care to vulnerable children that is as unique as they are.

“Foster caring is an incredibly rewarding experience that can help a vulnerable child and enrich their life when they most need it.

“We are urging Asian would-be foster carers to use their unique skills and heritage to help change a vulnerable child’s life for the better.”

Tarah-Joy Baines, Barnardo’s North West senior family placement manager, said: “As society becomes increasingly diverse, the background of those who foster is not. We want to encourage Asian foster carers to come forward so that the sector is more representative.

“If you think you have the skills necessary to help care for a child, I would urge you to contact your local Barnardo’s foster care team.”