Posted: Thursday 18th May 2017
With Foster Care Fortnight coming to end tomorrow, we spoke to two foster carers about their experiences.
Eileen Bulsara started looking after teenagers while her children were still young. When asked to summarise fostering in a few words, she said: “Fostering has been life changing for us all. My role is to accept the children that come into my home as part of our family, to bring them up in the same way as my own, and help them thrive.
"The most rewarding part of being a foster parent is seeing each child thrive; each little step forward makes you feel it's been all worthwhile.
"Also once they have grown up and moved on, it's a great boost to your confidence in knowing that
after all the ups and downs, you see a little bit of your influence in the way they rear their own families.”
Brian Rushton has been a foster carer with his wife for a few years now after they both secretly contacted HCC after seeing some adverts to find out what would be involved. Clearly they both had a passion to help.
Brian said: “It’s demanding and challenging but rewarding. The best part of being a foster parent is seeing the children making progress, although this is far from being instantaneous.
"It is often necessary to look back over a period of months or even years to remind yourself how things are improving and often the way forward may be through ‘tiny steps’.
"However, it is a great feeling when a young person you are looking after gets a glowing school report stating that they are working hard and to their full potential rather than U’s for unsatisfactory.”
For further information, please visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/fostering
Like this article? Why not look at our other news items.