Foster Care Fortnight #thisisfostering

11 – 24 May is national Foster Care Fortnight, organised by leading charity, The Fostering Network. This year’s campaign, #thisisfostering, aims to increase awareness of the need for more foster carers across the UK, including here in Cheshire.

Throughout the next two weeks, we will be using social media to highlight the real-life tasks foster carers undertake to support children and young people to have positive childhoods.

As part of the campaign, we spoke to two foster carers Karen Broadhead and Pam Jordin, who tell us about the transformational power of fostering and their own personal experiences:

Karen with her partner Chris

Karen, who has been fostering with Foster4 for three years says:

“Life as a foster carer certainly isn’t boring, imagine what you go through as a parent but with double the complexity, double the rewards and double the fun – and with lots of support along the way. 

“From the moment I applied to Foster4, I was greeted with real warmth and the support you receive is amazing! It’s about finding a balance between loving a child, and welcoming and including them into your family. From the moment my partner and I welcomed our first child, we’ve not looked back. It’s the most rewarding and satisfying job you will ever do.

“We are currently fostering three teenagers all with very different needs. Every day is certainly an adventure and we get so much satisfaction from guiding them into young adulthood – they make us smile and so very proud. 

“It really is a job that will fit all types of people. I can’t recommend it enough, you will be welcomed by other foster carers who are always on hand to guide, advise or just listen. It’s life changing for yourselves and also the children you are caring for.” 

Pam from Halton has recently started fostering with Foster4 and says:

“I’d describe myself as a mature lady with three grown up children. I love children! I believe with a passion they really are our future and we must give them a secure home, skills and love so they can be a productive member of society.

“I am a single lady and live with my two dogs. I’ve had a very varied full career, then decided I wanted to give something back to my local community. After seeing adverts on the internet and hearing them on the radio about how many local children needed a foster home, I decided to get the ball rolling and contact the council. A social worker and a single foster carer (like me) visited my home and answered all my questions. They were honest about the challenges as well as some of the positives that come with being a foster carer. I was hooked. I’ve met some amazing people along the way, social workers and other foster carers, who have all helped with my training and the basic skills I need. It took time. It’s touching how supportive my own children have been, they are entirely happy to be part of my support network.

“At the moment, I have a 10 year old young lady with me, she’s had a challenging few years. What joy she brings to my life! I love to cook, and we keep busy making cake and homemade quiche. We watch films together and walk our dogs, other times we just sit and read. Helping her to develop new handy craft skills and teaching her how to knit has made me so proud. Now and then it can be tough, nevertheless, we find ways to overcome problems together. We laugh a lot and there have been a few tears. But what a journey! For me it has been the best decision I’ve made and if you are thinking of becoming a foster carer please take that step.”

If you’re great with children and young people, have a spare bedroom and would like to know more about fostering, please enquire here.

You can follow, like and share more stories about #thisisfostering on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

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  During Foster Care Fortnight, we hear from husband and wife foster carers about the many positive aspects of the role.