How it all began
Fostering had always been at the back of Debbie’s mind. She liked the idea of helping children who needed a safe, stable home but she just wasn’t sure when the right moment would be.
“I’d always thought about fostering and thought it would be a nice thing to do,” she says. “A friend of mine started fostering and said, ‘Would you like me to give you my social worker’s number?’ And it all started from there.”
Moments that make it all worthwhile
Over the years, Debbie has welcomed many children with different backgrounds and needs. One young person stands out.
“We had a child come to live with us who was quite challenging at the time,” she explains. “He was from another country, and his culture was very different to ours. It was challenging for him and for us.”
Debbie never expected him to stay in touch — but he did.
“When he left, I didn’t think he would keep in touch, but he did and he still does to this day. Any problems he has, or difficulties, or even achievements, he’ll always come back and tell us, which is lovely.”
Another moment that means a lot to Debbie involves a young person she cares for now.
“When she came to live with us, she found it quite difficult — especially around men, including my husband,” Debbie says. “As time went on, she got more relaxed. The moment she just went up and gave him a hug… that was really, really nice. That was one of my favourite moments.”
The qualities that matter
Debbie believes empathy is the most important part of fostering.
“You need to have that empathy for children because they come from all different backgrounds,” she says. “For somebody to just turn up at your home and have to live with another family – it’s really, really hard. I’d find it difficult, let alone a little child.”
Support that’s always there
For Debbie, FCA’s support has made a big difference to her fostering journey.
“We receive lots of support from FCA, and it can be in different ways,” she explains. “If there’s something we’re finding difficult or challenging, we can always go and ask. If there’s something we’re not sure of, there’s always somebody on the end of the phone. Even if our social worker’s off, there’s always someone we can contact.”
Her advice?
After 15 years, Debbie still loves fostering – and she encourages others to explore it too.
“If you’re thinking about fostering, it’s worth finding out more. You don’t have to know everything, you just need to care. The rest comes with support.”
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