Kali and Shiv’s two children were part of the decision process when the couple considered fostering: “We waited until they were old enough to ask them and they said ‘yes, go for it. Do it.’”
The couple are originally from Mauritius. Kali said: “We didn’t actually specify we wanted children with special educational needs, we just opened our doors to anyone,” says Kali.
Now they look after two teenage girls with special needs and have been fostering for three years. “We have seen the progress they have made since they have been with us and can’t believe how far they have come along. It is so rewarding, and we are so proud of them,” she said.
“Looking after children with special needs is not easy, but it is great to have the support of our social workers – someone we can pick up the phone and say: ‘we are kind of struggling with this, what do we do?’
“Advice ranges from telling us about a special group that we can go to for this, or read up about something, or there’s an event for that; if they can’t solve the problem directly, they’ve always pointed us in the right direction. They’ve been really good.”