Shining a light on fostering

Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s biggest foster care awareness raising campaign, delivered by leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network.

The campaign showcases the commitment, passion and dedication of foster carers. It also supports fostering services to highlight the need for more foster carers.

Running from Monday 15 May - Sunday 28 May 2023, this year’s theme is #FosteringCommunities.

Whether you’re a foster carer, a social worker, young person, Fostering Friendly employer or supporter of foster care you are part of a community making a real difference to the lives of young people.

There are eight foster carer families in Orkney.

For more information on fostering locally please contact Fiona Mathieson, Interim Team Manager, Fostering, Adoption and Kinship Team on 01856873535 or fiona.mathieson@orkney.gov.uk

Here we share Louise’s* foster carer personal story.

I was age 15 when I first entered the care system - an emergency place of safety.

My mother had addiction issues and emotionally and physically abused me.

At first, I lived with emergency foster carers and then I was moved to a residential children’s unit. I remember ‘the unit’ being a difficult place to live as I wanted to study and gain standard grades, whereas the other young people were not really interested in school. We all had a lot of family and personal issues we were dealing with, so it was not the easiest place to live.

Within a few months, I was moved to live with a foster family – Lisa and David (foster carers) and their four young children. I loved living with them, they were really  interested in my studies and supported me. They loved me as they loved their own children and made me feel that I belonged with them.

With the support of her foster family, Louise did very well at school and went on to gain employment.

I remember them being so proud of me for getting a job. They made me feel that I was worthy of achieving great things in life. With their love, support and encouragement, my confidence and self-worth grew so much.

As Louise flourished, she set up home on her own and met and married James….but always keeping in close contact with her foster family.

Sadly, Lisa died last year. I could talk to her about anything, and her passing has really affected me. Her support meant the world to me and I miss her so much.

Lisa left a lasting legacy…

I saw an advert for fostering and James agreed we should apply. Within a few months we were assessed and approved to provide supported lodgings for teenagers. We looked after three teenage boys aged 15-18 and also cared for other teenagers on an emergency basis. At the time it was a mixture of “fun and challenges”. The boys were all very different, but they mostly respected our boundaries and house rules.

We even took six teenage boys on holiday to Belgium and also to Ibiza.  Looking back this was ‘a bit crazy’, but everyone all had a great time and we all made precious memories.

Thirty years later, I’m still in regular contact with ‘my boys’. They often phone for a chat and a catch-up, and send me Mother’s Day cards. One of my boys went to university and is now a care home manager, another trained to be a jockey and the other one joined the army. I’m so proud of them and it feels good knowing that I helped them to achieve their dreams, in the same way that Lisa and David helped me.

Louise moved to Orkney and began fostering once more.

My boys all provided references for me and one of them wrote, ‘Louise is the reason why I am a decent human being today’.

Since fostering in Orkney, I have learnt so much about trauma, loss and attachment. I’ve experienced first-hand how trauma can affect children and understand how it can take them a long time to feel safe and secure whilst living with foster carers. Fostering is by no means easy, but it is so rewarding – every day one of my fostered children does or says something funny and makes me laugh. I love watching my fostered children care grow and develop, and hope, with my support, they too will achieve their dreams.

*Name changed for confidentiality