What inspired you to become a foster carer?

I always wished I had worked with children, I was also a single parent to my daughter. I considered adoption but my mam suggested fostering. I didn’t know much about it so started to research it. It became clear I could help a lot of children by fostering, giving them a safe and loving home.

What has been your most rewarding moment as a foster carer?

I have so many! I took my foster daughter on her first holiday abroad last year
We spent two weeks in Florida, going to the Disney and Universal parks with my family. Seeing her face light up at the shows and encouraging her to go on rides she ended up loving was amazing.

There’s a photo from that holiday of my daughter, foster daughter and my nephew all holding hands walking down the street and it just totally encompassed fostering for me. She didn’t just become part of our small family unit, she is loved and cared for by the wider family and all my friends. Sharing those experiences with her was so heartwarming.

Have there been moments that felt challenging, and how did you get through them?

There have been a few challenges over my fostering journey, but I always seek out support from my social worker, the children’s social workers and my family. The training I receive really helps with understanding challenging behaviours and how trauma impacts children.

Was there anything that nearly stopped you from becoming a foster carer?

I wasn’t sure I could foster due to being single. All private agencies would not accept me due to the fact I don’t drive. Thankfully my local council didn’t see this as a deal breaker. I always get children to school and appointments on time.

What does a typical day look like managing fostering alongside everything else as a single parent?

I find it quite easy to manage fostering alongside parenting my own daughter. I walk both children half way to school before they meet their friends, help with homework on an afternoon, watch movies together in the evening and we eat all our meals together as a family and talk about our days. We all do things as a family together (family game nights, meals out, going to the cinema etc) and I make sure I have quality time with all the children separately, too. If I have training or meetings, it’s when the children are at school, so it doesn’t interfere with family life. 

How has your daughter taken to having foster siblings in the house?

My daughter was a bit worried about fostering at first, being an only child she wasn’t used to sharing her things or her time with me but after talking to her about some of the reasons children come into foster care, she realised not everyone had the same stable, happy life as she did and she came around to it. She has bonded with every single child we have welcomed into our home, whether they’ve stayed for a few days or two and a half years. It’s given her even more empathy towards other people, she has learned a lot of patience and understanding. 

Do you have a support worker or other foster carers you connect with? Has that community helped? What support did you receive from the council?



As part of the support package from my local council, I have a dedicated social worker and she is incredible, I can talk to her about any struggles I’m having whether they are about fostering or not. My family are an incredible support, they embrace the children with open arms and are always there to lend a hand if i need it. Getting to know other foster carers has been invaluable as well. They have first hand experience and can understand the worries that we all have as foster carers. I’m a member of a Facebook group specifically for foster carers from my local authority and I meet them at training sessions and events regularly.

What would you tell someone considering fostering and/or thinks they couldn’t foster?  

Anyone can foster. Regardless of age, marital status or sexual orientation. If you have patience, love and care you can foster. It’s so rewarding and the children bring such love and laughter into your lives. It’s wonderful being able to help them through difficult situations, supporting them to achieve their hopes and dreams, welcoming them into your family.