Chris, 62, is a single foster carer with two grown-up children of her own who specialises in looking after teenagers. She's been fostering for five years.
She says: “I always wanted to foster but didn’t have a spare room until my daughter moved out. I can’t imagine life without teenagers. They keep you young and on your toes.”
Chris has always been around young people having worked in a local secondary school for 23 years in multiple different roles including teaching health and social care and as a learning mentor.
She’s been fostering through the council for five years and has two foster children. One has been with her for two and a half years.
“There has been a big difference in her since she arrived with me. She was very much a people pleaser then. Now she can express her true feelings rather than what she thinks people want to hear.
“She is doing really well at school and as her confidence has grown, she wants to do better – before she was just plodding along.”
Chris’ advice to other people who have seen their grown-up children leave home and are interested in fostering is to “go for it”.
“You have nothing to lose. Not every child will be suited to your lifestyle, but you get a lot of information about them beforehand and you have the opportunity to discuss whether they will be right for you.
“There’s lots of support and training from the County Council and a 24-hour helpline. Other foster carers are a great deal of support, too,” she added.