Debbie and Gary had already raised their two daughters but decided their parenting days were far from over.
So, six years ago they turned to fostering. The couple mainly took on teenagers. One of them was a 12-year-old boy who had a 40% attendance record at school.
Under their care his life was transformed. Now he’s left school, is at college doing business studies and has just passed his driving test.
“He just needed someone to believe in him,” says proud Debbie, a former nursery-school teacher.
“It took lots of patience and very small steps, but we got there. We worked hard with the school and had a fantastic social worker and it made all the difference.”