Maria and Phil

Maria (48) and Phil (57) from Clacton-on-Sea have been fostering for eight years. They currently have one young woman aged 16, a 9-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy in their care.

They credit the support of Essex County Council in helping them to understand a child’s behaviour and how the trauma they may have been through is affecting the way they act now. 

“Our 9-year-old foster daughter still asks me to help her to wash, dress and brush her hair sometimes. Whilst some may feel that she should be more independent at that age or is attention seeking, I’ve learnt that she just wants those tender and nurturing moments that she missed out on."

Marie regards fostering as the best job in the world and couldn’t imagine herself doing anything else.

Read more about Maria and Phil's fostering story in their blog.