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A 21 stone student claims she has been turned down as a foster carer because she was 'too fat' .

Zoe Young slammed Salford Council, accusing them of discrimination after she was allegedly told by a member of staff that she was too heavy to look after a child in foster care.

The 32-year-old, who is married, said she was responding to a campaign to find new carers by her local council.

But Zoe claims that after months of meetings with care bosses in the city, she has now been told is unsuitable to be a foster parent because of her weight.

According to the Manchester Evening News , Salford council insist they accept foster parents of all shapes and sizes - but do make assessments on candidate’s suitability based on their health, with obesity being a factor.

However, Zoe, 32, from Ellenbrook , has blasted their decision: “You can be a foster parent, if you are single, and regardless of your sexuality, so why stop me because of my weight.

“My husband, Tim, and I had a meeting with council officials late last year to discuss becoming foster parents.

“At the time I was recovering from having a perforated bowel. The council said I should get back in touch once I had become more mobile as they had concerns about my health.

“I am now fully recovered. I have a personal trainer and I am working on my weight. I am getting out and about.weight, I think they are discriminating unfairly.”

“I spoke this week to an officer from the council’s fostering services and said I felt I was now ready to foster. She said the council still had concerns about my health, but I said that was almost a year ago.

“I said so, ‘what is the reason’ and she asked if I was still overweight. She stated three times in the conversation that my weight was the issue.”

She and Tim, 35, a lift engineer, decided to become foster parents as they have so far been unable to have their own children despite fertility treatment.

She added: “The council say they need to recruit 32 to 56 foster parents every year. Tim and I are willing to provide a loving home for a child instead of them being put in a kids’ home.

“I have now insisted that the council put in writing that I have been turned down because I am overweight.

“My grandmother’s sister was given up for adoption during the war and she inspired me to want to be a foster parent because of the success she made of her life after being brought up in a loving home.”

Zoe, who is studying for a masters degree at Manchester University in social science research methods and statistics, said: “I could easily accommodate my degree and being a foster mum.”

Salford council say that their teams do assess whether potential carers are fit enough - and say it is crucial they were physically able to keep up with children.

Coun Lisa Stone, lead member for children’s services, said: “We can’t comment on individual cases.

"We do welcome a wide range of people for consideration as foster parents but where someone is very overweight we would always have concerns about whether they would have the stamina and energy to keep up with the demands of a small child.

“We would not reject someone outright due to weight but would wish to have discussions with them about their health and wellbeing to be satisfied that they would be the right carer for children at what can be a very difficult time in their young lives.

“Salford does need more foster carers but we have to be absolutely certain they can provide the right care for vulnerable children.”