‘We love fostering. It’s always chaos, there’s always someone here, but it’s good fun!’ – foster carers Dawn and Alan. Are you looking for a more fulfilling job? Has the Coronavirus pandemic left you looking for a new career or new way of life?
Our foster carers tell us that fostering is the most rewarding thing they have ever done and that it has enriched their lives in ways they never anticipated.
Dawn and Alan Ashworth have been fostering carers with Hertfordshire County Council for the last 12 years, and have loved their fostering journey. During this time, they have fostered five children long-term as well as caring for approximately 30 short-term foster children. They are currently looking after a brother and sister aged 10 and nine.
Without foster carers, many children and young people, through no fault of their own, could end up without the stability and nurturing security of a home environment. It’s not just about being safe, it’s about supporting children and young people to thrive, and living as part of family life can often make a huge difference in achieving a great outcome for a child in need.
Dawn said, ‘People worry about the children moving on and the attachment they have to them, and I always say to them, don’t worry because, in our experience, we still see them, we still talk to them, they telephone, they come and stay. They’re all grown-up now and it’s lovely when they come back.’
Many people think they cannot be a carer because they are too old, single, have a disability, or are from a minority community. In reality, foster carers come from lots of different backgrounds and age groups.
Fostering offers the flexibility of working from home, perhaps while caring for your own children or combining fostering and other work, depending on the age and needs of the children in your care. There are many different types of fostering and foster carers can choose what is right for them.
Dawn and Alan had been considering fostering for years but finally took the decision when Alan was forced to give up work when he needed to be in his wheelchair full time. The couple was also moving home to a house with a spare bedroom which enabled them to apply.
Dawn, who had previously been working with children in schools and as a nanny for the past 25 years, said, ‘I would encourage people to foster. We’ve gone from our own boys leaving home and being quite a quiet house to being back to a busy, bustling house.’
The couple is also grateful for the support they have received from the Hertfordshire County Council fostering team.
Alan said, ‘The area here is a real community of foster carers, and everybody knows everybody, and if you’ve got a problem, you can contact each other and talk it through, and life is easier.’
If you are interested in fostering, Hertfordshire County Council will guide you through the process, every step of the way, providing 24/7 support, training, and generous pay and allowances.
You must be aged over 21 and have a spare bedroom. For more information visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/fosternow or call our team on 0800 917 0925 for an informal chat.
