Why should I foster?

Perhaps the best people to explain why you should foster are those who are already foster carers. Read what they have to say.

"If I could just give all my knowledge and experience of fostering to newcomers in one word, it would be rewards. The hard times are far outweighed by the realisation that you have helped a young person, child or baby through the love and guidance you can offer and by allowing them to share the positive experiences of family life."

"Fostering has given us opportunities that we might never have had…we have seen children blossom, have a fair chance at family life, find new families and move on to become well adjusted adults and parents. We now have a massive extended family and are happy with the way things have turned out."

Fostering is not just about giving – it has many rewards. Foster carers make a real difference in the lives of children by:

keeping them safe until they can go home
giving them the opportunity to enjoy an “ordinary” childhood and have the same opportunities as other children both at home, school and in society
helping them overcome the difficulties in their lives and see them grow and develop
teaching new skills and giving them a solid, secure future to look forward to
keeping brothers and sisters together
providing much needed breaks and support for children and/or their families.

What sort of people become foster carers?

Foster carers come from all walks of life, different backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles, ages and occupations, but they have a lot of things in common.

People who become foster carers are not only committed to providing a positive, safe home environment for children and young people, but to helping and supporting them through some of the most difficult periods in their lives.

For many children some form of ongoing contact with parents, siblings or extended family members is extremely important, so foster carers need to have the ability to begin and then keep good relationships with many different people.

Fostering is a difficult and challenging task requiring flexibility, understanding and a willingness to learn new skills, working closely with social workers and other professionals as part of a team to ensure children and young people achieve the best possible results.