Personal Experiences

Mrs O-foster carer- just returned from a young person’s statutory review
“ I’ve just come back from a review meeting… the progress and remarks of excellence of the young person… the proudness and the tears of his parents and the appreciation shown was so overwhelming, this is what makes fostering so worth while”

Young person’s experience as a child and a young adult, who is now successfully living independently

The Child “…..since the age of seven to the age of twelve, I never lived a normal life. It was full of abuse.  Eventually my family wanted me gone, to what they thought was going to be a life of hell.  So from then on I was taken care of by the local authority”

The young person “…….social services mentioned a possible couple to me….It was weird how they found a family for me…weird in a good way.  I went to meet them I spent a day and had tea.  I was then able to stay for a weekend and after that a few more visits then moved in.  This is when I started to feel like someone.  I realised people cared about me and loved me and wanted to better my life”

Mrs G- foster carer- a new carer <
“The day arrived I watched through the window, he hesitated as he reached the gate, nervously approaching the door.  I opened it and blurted out are you nervous cause I am. The relief on his face when he realised adults get nervous too.  I was full of ideas and expectations and knew from now on how different our lives would be. Over the months passed I hadn’t realised how many times my parenting skills would change and be challenged on a daily basis.  At first I thought it was a weakness in me having to adapt, but by talking things through and listening I began to realise that over the time the behaviour was more manageable and quite funny at times when I look back –oh yes you most certainly need a good sense of humour to be a carer. I found the booklet managing behaviour invaluable, as sometimes you can forget these children come with so much hurt and anger inside and rightly so when you think what they’ve had to cope with at the beginning of their innocent lives. Nor for one second would I say I was a perfect foster carer I’ve said the wrong thing been angry and felt like pulling my hair out and have at times wondered if this was right for me.
But the longer the young person is with us I realise and see the affection and warmth that radiates from him. This is just one child no matter what behaviour they portray deep down they’re all shouting the same thing, will someone please love me for just being me”.