NOBODY should suffer from neglect. Imagine having no better alternative than to be taken away from your family and placed in a strangers care – at just the age of six.

The only thing that can make such a situation more bearable, is the compassion and commitment of a foster carer.

It is a sad fact that some children in Dorset have no stability, and cannot live with their family – through no fault of their own.

Sometimes this is temporary and sometimes, it's permanent.

There are currently 493 children in care in Dorset, and 61 open requests for a foster placement.

Foster care provides a vital service, giving vulnerable children a safe, secure and loving home when they need it most.

Dorset County Council has been campaigning for the past two weeks for Foster Care Fortnight, running until May 29. The campaign highlights the need for more people to consider helping a child.

There are 156 fostering households in Dorset. The county needs more people that can be a family for vulnerable children.

When placing children with foster families, it is essential for them to have as much stability as possible.

15 year old Abbie* found that stability in Weymouth after suffering from neglect in her own family.

At just the age of six, Abbie was put into the care system with her younger sisters.

Nine years later, Abbie hasn't seen her sisters for years and has been in four foster placements.

After an unsettled start in life, finally Abbie is part of the caring family she deserves. She was welcomed into foster carer Rachel's* home and family six years ago.

The walls of their home today are lined with pictures of Abbie alongside Rachel's children, smiling and enjoying her childhood.

Abbie has shared her story to help raise awareness for the need for more foster carers.

She said before, she didn't feel stable, and wasn't happy. If people told her she couldn't do something, she would believe it. Abbie went into foster care and her two younger sisters were adopted.

Abbie said: "I miss one of my sisters as I grew up with her, but the other two I can't really remember."

Abbie initially kept in touch with her dad, until deciding to cut him off for good.

"I just got to the point where I couldn't deal with him coming in and out of my life when it suited him so I cut all contact. I cut my cousins and father's sister too as they did the same thing."

Abbie said: "In Action for Children, we have pledges, one we do is to have a safe and stable home.

"It doesn't matter if they are in care or not, everyone should have that."

Action for Children are a charity who support children and their right to 'love, support and opportunity'.

Rachel and her husband decided to foster after having children. Since that decision, they have made a huge impact on two young girls lives.

She said: "The amount of children taken into care is phenomenal, they are in care for a reason.

Rachel said a lot of people want to adopt younger children, but she made a huge impact with her first foster placement – a teenage girl who was heading down a wrong road.

Rachel said: "I'm so proud of a young girl who came here who nobody wanted, who was drinking heavily and going off the rails.

"She was 16 and I was pulling my hair out. But seeing her now and being there for her and sticking by her through the tough times, she's now studying to be a social worker and is a mother.

Abbie is Rachel's second foster child.

Rachel said: "When Abbie came here she was well below average academically and struggling. We are now looking at As and Bs for GCSEs.

"I look at this little girl, part of a statistic of social services, and she is no longer one of those stats.

"I'm immensely proud of how she has turned herself around.

"It proves children will thrive in a stable home. Don't get me wrong, she is still a teenager and has a strop, but now she is focussed and has vision.

"People need to remember it's not the childs fault."

Rachel believes all children deserve love, reassurance, guidance and routine.

Abbie said: "It proves by people sticking by me and with me that I can achieve something. It shows they need to persevere.

"There's a reason why a child will act in a certain way, they try to see what people's reaction will be – and if anyone will listen or try and help them."

Abbie said now she feels more safe and secure.

She said: "At the base of it is having a stable home because it makes me happier and confident.

"I enjoy it now, it feels like I'm with a family again."

Cllr Rebecca Knox, Dorset County Council’s Cabinet member for Children’s Safeguarding said: “Children and young people in our care system need people from all over Dorset to think about whether they might be able to offer space in their hearts and homes which could be a vital lifeline to a vulnerable child in need.

“Children of all ages crave the security, stability and love that a family can bring.

"Fostering could provide these vulnerable children with a ‘normal’ home life either for a short period or through to adulthood."

Children with a disability are one of the most overlooked groups of children in need of special care.

The council needs carers to help look after children who have a disability, either for just a few hours, maybe overnight, or to offer a longer-term placement.

Cllr Knox added: “Foster carers come from all walks of life.

"So whether you’re in a couple or single, working or not, have a family or live alone or if you rent or own your home - don’t rule yourself out."

For more information about becoming a foster carer, visit dorsetforyou.com/fostering or call 0800 195 9654.