ONE in ten foster children in North Ayrshire move home two or more times a year, new figures show.

It’s been revealed that 33 children in foster care between April 2014 and March this year moved twice or more in that time period. The Freedom of Information figures were released by the charity Action for Children.

The charity insists that children and young people who regularly move between foster care homes are more likely to have poor social skills, reduced education outcomes and limited future employment prospects – impacting on their mental health and exacerbating any existing issues.

Their figures revealed that there were 4,997 foster children in care in Scotland during the time period and out of that figure, 1,967 foster children had moved twice or more.

In North Ayrshire, 281 were in foster care with 179 children in one placement, 28 in two placements, two in three placements and three in four placements.

Action for Children has now warned that too many children in foster care are still being disrupted by repeated moves to new homes, and has launched an appeal to find thousands of new foster carers to help provide the best homes for vulnerable children.

Carol Iddon, director of children’s services across Scotland, said: “For children in care, moving home is not just about leaving a house.

"It means leaving a family, friends, school and everything that’s familiar to start all over again.

“We know of children as young as four who have had to move three times in less than a year before finding a stable family home. “Sadly, we know that it can be necessary to move children from their current foster homes as relationships between a carer and child can break down, especially for children who have faced the most traumatic experiences and find it hard to trust someone new.

"However, too many children in care are still facing instability in their lives.

"That’s why we urgently need more dedicated foster carers to help children and young people overcome trauma by helping them love and trust again.” Action for Children is looking for people across Scotland who can provide a secure and loving home to children who have experienced trauma and loss.

You must have a spare room and the ability to stand alongside children and young people to help them recover.

If you would like to find out more about being a foster carer visit actionforchildren.org.uk, call 0845 200 5162 or email fostercare.caps@actionforchildren.org.uk.