The Fostering Network welcomes the appointment of TV’s Debbie Douglas, and her daughter Lydia Bright, to the role of Government Fostering Ambassador in England. Debbie and Lydia are best known as being stars of The Only Way is Essex.

Debbie, and her partner David Bright, have been fostering for 22 years and also have four birth children, including Lydia.

Vicki Swain, campaigns manager at The Fostering Network, said: ‘It is vitally important that the profile of fostering is raised, and to have two such popular and passionate advocates of fostering being appointed to this role will play an important part in that profile raising. We hope that Debbie and Lydia will be able to help place foster care on an equal footing as other permanency options such as adoption, and encourage more people to consider becoming foster carers.

‘We look forward to continuing to work with Debbie, Lydia, children’s minister Edward Timpson and existing Fostering Ambassador Lorraine Pascale in the coming months to keep fostering, which supports the vast majority of children in care, at the top of the agenda.’

You can find out more about fostering, and contact your local fostering service, by visiting couldyoufoster.org.uk.

You can support the brilliant work of foster carers like Debbie and David by donating directly to The Fostering Network and enabling us to continue to work right across the UK to make life better for all those involved in foster care.