A couple who have been foster carers for more than 13 years face losing their home on the outskirts of Abergavenny.

Debbie and John Mossemenear have been given notice to quit by Llanover Estates who want to sell it.

But the price tag is too high for the couple to buy it themselves.

Now daughters Jen and Meg have got on board and hope their parent’s plight may touch the hearts of local people after they launched a gofundme page to try and raise thousands of pounds.

Debbie explained: ‘‘We have tried everything we can think of to come up with a way of us staying in this house because not only has it been our home for 21 years but if we can’t stay here and have to move to a smaller property then we can no longer continue to foster children.

‘‘We know the gofundme idea may seem crazy to some people and we may get flack for it but we are desperate.

‘‘We love being foster carers and I even took part in the local authority’s campaign to try and encourage others to be foster carers too, ironically if we can’t stay here or find somewhere big enough we may have to give up doing what we love.

’’As well as fostering I am also a child minder.

‘‘I can’t sleep for worry and I know we are in lockdown and people have lost jobs and businesses but we are hoping people understand where we are coming from with our appeal.

‘‘Foster carers don’t earn a lot of money however we have met with financial advisers, talked to social services at Monmouthshire County Council, wrote to our MP and local councillors but so far to no avail.’’

Earlier this week their hopes of a local business buying the property and renting it back to Debbie and John were dashed.

‘‘We know it’s a lot to ask but if everyone in the county donated just a £1 each we would have enough to buy.’’

In their gofunding appeal Jen and Meg say: ‘‘Our parents are foster carers for our local authority and have been lucky enough to care for 27 children and young people in the last 13 years, alongside bringing up us, our two siblings, plus helping to care for their 11 grandchildren as well as mum being a childminder.

‘‘Mum and Dad live in a lovely family home which they have always had a secure long term tenancy for from a local Estate. They’ve lived there for over 21 years and had no plans to move or more importantly stop fostering in the near future.

‘‘Unfortunately they have been informed that the Estate are restructuring their business and have decided to sell off some of their properties, including their home. This has come as a huge shock to us all. They have been offered the chance to buy the property but have also been given their notice and if they are unable to secure funding to purchase it will have to move out in the next two months.

‘‘To say we are all devastated is an understatement, this has been such a loving, happy family home for as long as we can all remember. We are all so worried about the emotional effect this will have on the children they foster and also if they are going to be able to continue to foster children in the future.’’

‘‘We worry that them having to move house will have a detrimental emotional effect on the children they presently support long term and jeopardise the emotional security they have tried so hard to give them, but also prevent our parents from continuing being able to foster in the future if they have to move to a smaller/unsuitable property.

‘‘They’ve tried their upmost to see if it is possible to obtain a mortgage to fund purchasing the house. The Estate has valued it at a purchase price of £425,000 and with Mum and Dad being aged 60 and 62 this amount is proving unattainable to fund.

‘‘They are able to raise approx a quarter of the price but we need to help them raise the rest. If we can’t raise enough to keep the family home we will help them to find a suitable home that allows them to continue fostering.’’

Whilst renting elsewhere could be option the couple are struggling to find another suitable sized property in the local area, at a price they can afford, which would then enable them to carry on fostering.

‘‘We know it sounds a lot, and it is! But every single penny will help them continue to help vulnerable children. If you can give any amount, however small it would mean the world to our family and the children they care for.

’’If you are a business looking for an investment please please get in touch. Thank you so so much.’’

If you can help please follow the link to the fundraising page