More foster parents are needed for teenagers in Jersey who are currently living in residential care.

21 teens are in foster homes, but there are others the authorities say would benefit from being in a family environment.

A new campaign called 'Making Time for Teens' aims to challenge people's preconceptions of looking after older children.

The Fostering and Adoption Team says offering teens a caring and secure home can improve their self esteem and make a huge difference to their lives.

Lauren Burnett, from the team, is a mum who has fostered a teenager:

"A lot of it with teenagers is emotional support, and trying to break down those barriers that they have built up to protect themselves.

Once you have broken through those barriers, and you really start building a trusting relationship, the feeling and the reward you get out of that.. that they can then go on and build other trusting relationships in their lives."

"I think we are appealing to anybody that has huge empathy, and can see themselves (in these teenagers)... 'I remember being like that, I remember struggling like that.. I think I would know what to say.  I think I could be that person that could help guide them into adulthood."

The campaign features Ceira, now 22, who was fostered for six months at the age of 16.

“Having somewhere that I knew I was going to bed at night and where I knew someone was going to smile at me when I was walking out the door to school in the morning made all the difference.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be human, and you need to be caring, and with these combined you have the potential to be a foster carer. That’s all you’ve got to do.”

Anyone who is interested in becoming a foster carer in Jersey can contact the Fostering and Adoption Team on: (01534) 443970 or email [email protected]