His possessions were put in black bin liners when he was taken into foster care at the age of eight. Now he’s a thriving, successful young man and he says that’s thanks to his foster carers
Josh Thompson is urging potential foster carers to think about changing the life of a child during Foster Care Fortnight which runs from 11-24 May.
Josh, now 24, was with other foster carers until the age of 13 when he went to live with Colchester foster parents Iain and Karen Cameron.
The pair are former soldiers now but then they were living in Army accommodation as Iain was on active duty in Baghdad, Iraq.
Josh stayed with them until he was 18 and now, he has the world at his feet – a job he loves, a life partner, Lucy, and a big German Shepherd called Milo. But life could have been very different.
In 2020, up to 500 children in Essex are expected to come into foster care and Essex County Council is urging more foster carers to help transform their lives in the same way Josh’s life was.
Foster Care Fortnight highlights the importance of foster carers’ work. More foster carers are needed in Essex on a full and part-time basis for either short or long-term placements.
They can be single, married, from a same-sex family or retired and Essex County Council offers high-quality bespoke local training.
An active network of support groups provides opportunities to meet and learn from other foster carers where many go on to make long-term friendships.
Cllr Louise McKinlay, Cabinet Member for Children and Families at Essex County Council said: “While the world outside might have ground to a standstill because of Coronavirus, life goes on for children and parents in crisis.
“A high proportion of the children who come into care are over the age of ten, so we desperately need foster carers to help with that age group.”
Josh is very frank about his background: “My parents had issues with alcohol and my mum also had mental health problems,” he said.
He was one of six brothers but went into foster care with just one of them. He had contact with his parents for many years but, ultimately, they died young.
Today, he is an area manager for a chain of restaurants and oversees more than 230 employees. His contemporaries in identical roles are at least 18 years older than him and he credits Iain and Karen in large part for his success.
“I wouldn’t be where I am now without them. They really feel like my parents – I don’t call them mum and dad but that is what they are to me. They did for me what a normal parent does. They gave me a foundation and stability. They were there for me through the good times and bad.
“It doesn’t matter what kind of background a foster child comes from. They’ve been through the mill – kids need foster parents like the ones I had – they deserve it.”
Iain Cameron, who now works in facilities management, said: “Do I feel fulfilled as a foster carer? Absolutely.”
Josh was their first foster child and there have been around a dozen others since, but he still sees him regularly: “Our relationship with him is brilliant. I classify him as a son.”
Find out more by visiting www.essexadoptionandfostering.co.uk/fostering or attending one of the virtual events: https://bit.ly/2zsC7wx The phone line is also still open 0800 801 530.