There are about 80,000 children in care in the UK. About 10,000 of these are black, Asian or of mixed heritage. In the 1970s, many ethnic minority children were adopted or fostered into white families, but today the care system tries to make cultural and racial matches. However, because of the shortage of prospective parents from non-white communities, black and Asian children can wait a long time to be placed.

Foster carers look after a child. Parental responsibility usually stays with the birth parents unless a court order is made so that it's shared with the local authority. In most cases, the child will return to their family at some point, but for a few children long-term foster care or adoption may be needed.

Types of fostering Include:

• Emergency care
• Being looked after by family and friends, known as kinship care
• Long-term foster care

Why are children fostered?
Children are placed in foster care because their parents can't look after them.

In some cases, it gives the parents an opportunity to sort out their problems or have a break from looking after a child with a serious medical condition. It may also be used to provide care while a child's parents are ill or incapacitated.

In other cases, the child is removed from their parents' care because of abuse or neglect.

Who can foster?
In the UK, you must be 18 or over to foster. There's no upper age limit, but it's unusual for people to start fostering when they're over 60.

You can apply to become a foster carer if you're married, single, cohabiting or divorced. Your race, religion or sexuality won't affect your application. Other factors, such as whether you have a job, or a disability, will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

In Scotland, the criteria differs slightly. Unmarried gay and lesbian couples living together can't foster. Contact your local fostering agency for more details.

Foster carers need to be able to communicate well with children, demonstrate a responsible and sympathetic approach, and have enough energy to look after them.

How do I become a foster carer?
If you would like more information on becoming a foster carer. You can find find more information in our links section were you will find a number of organisations who will be able to give you advice and help.

You're eligible to adopt a child if you're 21 or over, as long as you can provide a permanent, caring and stable home.

There's no upper age limit, but you need to demonstrate you're healthy enough and have the necessary commitment and energy to bring up a child.

You can apply to adopt regardless of marital status, sexuality, race or religion, whether you're in work or have a disability.

During the adoption process, applicants undergo a full medical check-up.

An adoption panel will assess your application and check whether you have a criminal record. Convictions won't necessarily rule you out unless you or a member of your household has been cautioned or convicted of an offence against a child. Other serious offences that could affect your application include rape and violent assault.

You don't need to be wealthy or own your own home to adopt, but you do need to show you can support a child financially. If you do adopt, you can apply for tax credits and benefits to supplement your income. Financial help may also be available in the form of one-off or regular payments.

Who needs adopting?
According to the British Association for Adoption & Fostering, more than 4,000 children are waiting to be placed permanently with new families in the UK. They come from a range of races, religions and backgrounds, and have many different needs.

The average age for adoption is four and about two-thirds of adopted children are placed with a family before their fifth birthday.

Adopted children often have complex family backgrounds. Placing siblings in the same family can be beneficial, but when it's in the children's best interests they'll be separated. This is often the case when one or all the children have special needs.

Whats the legal situation?
Once an adoption order has been passed by a court, full legal responsibility for the child passes to the adoptive parents. Birth parents no longer have any rights over the child and can't claim them back.

The adopted child will take your surname and enjoy the same rights as any other children you have.

Do I have to be married?
In England and Wales, unmarried couples can apply for joint adoption. Couples in a civil partnership can also apply for joint adoption.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, only one member of an unmarried couple, including gay couples, can apply to adopt. However, this may change in the near future.

Could you adopt?
Before you can adopt an assessment needs to be carried out and approved. This can take up to eight months. Once this is over, matching you with a suitable child can begin. This can take from a few weeks to more than a year.

Contact a recognised adoption agency, for more information and to begin the adoption process. To find one in your area, go to www.baaf.org.uk.