Lorraine Pascale becomes government's first fostering ambassador

The chef spent time in foster care as a child

(BBC)

Lorraine Pascale has been named as the government’s first fostering ambassador.

The chef - who was fostered herself as a child – will celebrate fostering as much as possible and will help encourage others to become foster carers.

“I’m extremely honoured to be invited to be the government’s Fostering Ambassador and very much look forward to working with the minister and his team in supporting their efforts to ensure fostered children and young adults receive the best care possible,” said Pascale.

“It’s a cause that’s extremely close to my heart and I know from personal experience how critical and important this work is. I very much look forward to getting started in the New Year.”

Pascale will work with the Children and Families Minister to raise the profile of fostering over the next coming months.

The chef was fostered for the first 18 months of her life, before being adopted. She was put into care again, aged seven, when her adopted parents split and her mother fell ill.

In a 2014 BBC2 documentary, Fostering and Me, she examined her childhood in a bid to raise awareness of fostering.

“Lorraine is an inspiration to many foster children and their parents,” said Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson. “I’m delighted to have her on board as the government’s first Fostering Ambassador and I know together we can make a real difference in encouraging more people to open their hearts and homes to children waiting to be fostered.”