When Sam and her husband, John, first enquired about fostering, they only wanted to care for babies and toddlers. By chance they took in a 15-year-old boy on an emergency placement. That was 18 months ago.
“It has really altered our opinion. We wrongly assumed that bringing a teenager into the family would be more difficult. I would recommend being totally open-minded when starting the fostering process. All I can say is just get ready to build some amazing memories and have some incredible experiences!”
Sam, aged 34, loves feeling part of a big fostering network and has found the training on offer by Essex County Council very beneficial. John has been inspired to set up a male support group.
He says: “We have a dynamic group with a mixture of valuable experiences and skill sets. Everyone has the time and opportunity to speak. It has very much become a safe place to share challenges and positive experiences”.