Giving any child the best start in life takes lots of love, time and energy.

There are some youngsters, through no fault of their own, who grow up in difficult circumstances. They may not know the love of a parent or be used to being held.

But there are big-hearted foster carers across the county who can help.

The Rev Rob Jackson and his wife Tracey, from Whitehaven, have spoken about their experiences of fostering babies up to two years old.

They say their role can be both rewarding and heartbreaking.

Tracey said: "We take them in as our own. We love them as our own. It hurts when it comes to saying goodbye. Our hearts get broken. But I always say I would rather our hearts be broken than theirs."

"We always look at what's best for the children," says Rob, who is rector of St James' Church in Whitehaven.

The pair took up fostering as their two sons had grown up and they had experience working with young people and families.

They fostered in the Manchester area and have been fostering in Cumbria for the past four years.

Rob said: "It wasn't about us it was about the children. It was seeing there was a real need and we could do something."

They say children come to them from different family situations: some youngsters may not have been held, others may have been propped up to have a bottle rather than be fed from the comfort of their parent's arms.

"They say it takes a community to raise a child but it's the parent who is on the front line," said Rob.

The role of the foster carer, they say, is to look after the children and be there for them as they spend time with parents or go to through the adoption process.

As Rob and Tracey are short-term foster carers they look after children for anything from a few days to two years. During this time Cumbria County Council works with the youngster's families to secure their future hopefully by enabling them to return home.

Rob said: "We've had a number of children. We have had them from a couple of night to 14 months."

The couple spoke about the attachment bond between babies and those who are caring for them, whether it be parents, or carers.

Tracey said they look after youngsters as their own to enable the child to form bonds that are key in later life.

But, with that comes heartbreak for the couple when the child moves on either back to their birth parents or to adoptive parents.

"We always look at what's best for the children," says Rob.

They say the role of foster carer is "not pain free" as children from different backgrounds and difficult circumstances need help.

There are babies that are born with foetal alcohol syndrome, withdrawal from drugs. Some have suffered abuse and neglect.

As children up to the age of 18 can be fostered, they may face a host of difficulties: some may have committed criminal offences and others may have have experienced upset and trauma as a result of their circumstances and this may be displayed in difficult behaviour.

For some, the separation from their birth family will cause them distress whatever their experience in the family.

The pair say if a child is put into foster care, social services has 28 weeks to help their families.

Rob says: "We would much rather the children went back to their family because the family are together. We work with the parents and the children. But, it could be that after 28 weeks a decision is made that adoption is the way forward."

Tracey said: "The biggest moment when one child went for adoption, was the moment that she met her new mummy and daddy. Because of the work we had done in the run up to the introduction, she went running up to them when they came through the door."

The couple say social services provides a host of training for foster carers to support them, and there is also a process - which can take between six and 12 months - for people to become foster carers.

Rob said: "It's quite a deep process. There is a series of interviews over a long period of time. They also interview family and friends.

"You also attend a skills to foster course. It's done of a period of time because they want to get to know you and who you are because they are placing a child in your care."

They praised social services in Whitehaven, describing them as "brilliant".

In addition to being short term carers, the Jacksons are also trained to work with parents, so both the child and the parent stays with them. Tracey said the initiative enables her to be there as mums care for their child, and be there to support them.

Cumbria County Council says there are numerous fostering schemes.

Information events are held by the council` to provide details about fostering. A session is being held at The Imperial Hotel, in Barrow, on May 13, from 10.30am.

Workington dates are still to be confirmed.