“We wanted to support young people as they move to become young adults.” Jane, a foster carer from West Essex, helps promote Foster Care Fortnight
“We wanted to support young people as they move to become young adults.” Jane, a foster carer from West Essex, helps promote Foster Care Fortnight
A foster carer from Saffron Waldon in West Essex is sharing the positive experiences of fostering children and is encouraging more people to come forward and foster as part of a campaign run by Essex County Council during Foster Care Fortnight from 9th to 20th May.
63-year-old Jane has been fostering young people for six years. She knows that in addition to giving them the security of a home and the love and support of a foster family, it’s little things like teaching the young person to cook or do the laundry which will help them become confident, independent young adults.
Foster carers need to be able to offer love, support, and care without judgement to help children and young people understand the trauma they have experienced and support them to achieve their potential.
“Every child deserves to be loved and have a home and that’s what we hope to give. They become part of our family and we treat them and love them like they were our own children.
There were many challenges along the way, but I know how much of an impact I had on their life. They even sent me a Mother’s Day card and they call Andy and I ‘Mum and Dad’, I know we mean the world to them, as they do to us. Little things they say or do to make you stand back and think ‘wow, they’ve come a long way, I'm so proud of them.”
Jane recognises that even though there are challenges because of the previous experiences of our children you need to be able to support them through these times.
“They just need to be listened to and heard. There are times when I’ve sat with my foster children for hours talking through things because they just want to talk and be supported no matter what. It’s these little things that make such an impact on foster children.”
There are 1,100 children in care and Essex County Council is urging more people to consider fostering because more foster carers are needed to offer part-time and full time fostering. Foster carers can be single, married, from the LGBTQ +community or retired.
Essex County Council offers all foster carers excellent local training with an active network of support groups providing opportunities to meet and learn from other foster carers. It also offers 24/7 local support, a dedicated social worker and access to clinical psychologists
Cllr Beverley Egan, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Early Years at Essex County Council, said: “We need more people to consider fostering to help children and young people become confident and independent.
Our foster carers provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home environment to hundreds of young people across Essex every year, which helps them prepare for independent living.
The support provided by Essex County Council enables our foster carers to follow their passion and make a real difference to a young person’s life.”
Jane is encouraging anyone thinking about fostering children or young people to pick up the phone and enquire.
“If you’re thinking about fostering, don’t wait as long as I did and just give the council a call, or go to an information event to find out more. I wish I’d started fostering sooner, but I'm only in my early sixties and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon. It is challenging, but it is also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”
Find out more by visiting: https://www.essexadoptionandfostering.co.uk/fostering.
If you prefer to speak to our friendly helpline call: 0800 801 530.
Pop along to one of our online events and find out more about fostering or visit: How to become a foster carer).