Meet the foster carers

Meet the foster carers

Foster carers talk about what fostering means to them in this short video.

Colin and Carol

Colin and Carol got into fostering through helping young people in their community. Colin currently works for Connexions and together they foster teenagers:

"The first foster child that we took in said afterwards that when his life was out of control somebody took control of it. Obviously with the intent to give it back to him when he could manage it. I think it was important that somebody was bigger than he was at that time.

"Our aim is to get young people in our care to be confident and comfortable with who they are. It's an exciting, challenging, rewarding, difficult job - but then what job isn't if you want to do it well?"

Elaine and Keith

Elaine and Keith have been fostering for 13 years and at the moment look after unaccompanied asylum seekers and teenagers: "We find that when children come to us they have lost their confidence - their self esteem, their identity. By the time they've been here for a while, and we've gone through a lot of listening and talking they move on to become more accepting of everything.

"They gain a role in life. They might pass exams and be absolutely thrilled. It's fantastically satisfying for us to see that. It's about turning them around, that's the buzz we get from fostering. ‘When children move on it can be painful, but we have to deal with it by thinking it's a job really well done."

Stephanie

Stephanie has been a foster carer for seven years and has recently joined a specialist scheme caring for children aged 10 plus with challenging behaviour:

"Fostering is an amazing way of giving something back. You need a good sense of humour and to be able to deal with different people in different circumstances. You also need plenty of patience. I think in this job you may not know if something is working at the time but a day or so later a child makes a comment and you realise what you have done has worked - it's such a feeling of achievement.

"It isn't all hunky dory - but what job is? For me seeing the child progress and develop is the best thing about the job and the most rewarding."

Shaun

Shaun is a boxing instructor who decided to become a foster carer after working with children at a local residential home. He has been fostering for six years:

"As a foster carer, I’ve been able to develop my skills and abilities, to be open and honest and to analyse myself.

"Foster carers need loads of different skills. Every day I’m reasoning and negotiating with the young people as well as the other professionals in the team.

"Fostering is a career that you live every minute of the day. But it’s also a lot of fun, and for me it’s like reliving my childhood."