Foster Care Stories
Barbara’s story
Barbara reminisces about the 22 years she’s spent with Team Fostering and the children and young people she’s supported over the years.
Barbara, now 71, began her fostering journey with Team Fostering in our North East region 22 years ago. With a focus on long-term fostering she’s been there to support a number of children and young people through the ups and downs of going into care. Being there for them when they need it, learning to let go when things don’t go as planned and celebrating the small wins.
Before heading out for a well-earned birthday lunch, Barbara sat down to reminisce over some of the standout moments from all those years.
“The years fly by”, Barabara mused, “In the very beginning when I joined Team Fostering it was a very small agency.
“It’s grown over the years but we’ve still got the same ethos and we’re still a family. What we’ve got now is benefiting so many more children in a good way.
“And the stability has been great. I’ve had only a couple of supervising social workers, maybe three, over the years.”
Looking back over the years
During her time as a foster carer, many of the children and young people she’s had have left a lasting impact on her for different reasons.
She said: “I’ve had some memorable children. One of the most memorable is a young girl who transitioned while she was with me. It made such a such an impression on myself, and how she managed it. Now she’s just a wonderful young woman.
“Also seeing the young person I’d had since he was 10 go on to do so well with his life and become independent with his own home at 25. To see that at such a young age, it was wonderful.”
The small rewards of fostering
Whilst Barbara has supported children and young people through some big and challenging times in their lives, it’s the small things she looks back on with the most fondness.
She said: “It’s a little things for me. I remember when the boys were younger and they’d bring me breakfast in bed for my birthday. And the excitement of Christmas, their first holiday, when they hadn’t been on an aeroplane and the build up to that. It’s priceless.
“It doesn’t have to be a long term arrangement, it can be short term, it can be a few weeks, a few months, a few years. That period of time where they’re enjoying their life, experiencing things which they hadn’t before. It all counts.”
Continued support from Team Fostering
Amongst the happy memories, Barbara’s also had more difficult moments to navigate as a foster carer. That’s where the full package of support from Team Fostering comes in.
Barbara explains: “Fostering is heartbreaking at times but the role of a foster carer is just to be there, support them, be non-judgmental and understand.
“No matter what happens, we’ve got support from Team Fostering. You’re never on your own. I can pick up the phone anytime and there’ll be somebody willing to help.
“I like how Team recognise past employees who were very close to us all in the very beginning and over the years have sadly passed away. I think that tells you a lot about the agency. They’re not forgotten and I think that’s wonderful.
“I can’t imagine myself fostering without them.”