Fostering was always something Bevan and Christine talked about doing. But it became real when their eldest child gave them the push they needed.
“We told the kids we were thinking about it, and a few weeks later our eldest came to us and said, ‘So, when are you going to start fostering then?’ That kind of gave us the nudge we needed!”
They started fostering through their local authority. The first children they cared for stayed just a short time – a baby who was with them until just after his first birthday, and another child for a couple of months. Then came a little girl who would go on to become a permanent part of their family.
Part of the family
“She came to us as a toddler. She’s still with us now, 14 years later. She’s our little girl,” they say.
She has foetal alcohol syndrome, which means she won’t be able to live fully independently. “She’ll stay living with us for as long as she wants. This is her home.”
They’re now becoming Shared Lives carers, so they can keep supporting her into adulthood. “It just felt like the right thing.”
Why they transferred to FCA
After fostering with their local authority for several years, they began to feel something was missing. Then a friend who had moved to FCA told them what it was like.
“She just spoke so warmly about it – ‘We do this, we do that, there’s always someone to help’ – and we thought, yes. That’s what we want. That’s what fostering should feel like.”
The couple joined FCA – and quickly saw the difference. “We felt like we were part of a team again. It was a caring, supportive environment – exactly what we were looking for.”
“The training’s great, but it’s more than that – there’s always someone on the other end of the phone when you need them.”
Their advice to others thinking about fostering?
“If you’ve got the space – and more importantly, the heart – then I’d definitely recommend it. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to care.”
Download our Transfer Guide
Want to learn more about the benefits of transferring to FCA?
We can fast-track your assessment in just 12 weeks, allowing you to experience the benefits of our supportive community sooner than you expect. Download our transfer fostering agency guide to discover the process and advantages of fostering with FCA.
