Bristol Fostering

So it's that time again. The start of a new year, and we think, 'hey, maybe I should eat better' or 'let's get fit and go to the gym'. Or a million other things that we may stick to for a few days or even weeks, or if you're lucky, over a year. But, one thing you could do that will have a lasting positive effect on yourself, your family and many needy kids, is give fostering a try. You may be really worries, or anxious, or just confused about the application process. It is long, but rightly so, but when you've gone through it all, what you get out of it is worth the hassle a million times over. You get to help a child who maybe has never had anyone be kind to them, ever. They may be used to be beaten, abused, talked down to, having no toys or things to call their own. They may have seen horrific things and normalised drug use. But you have the opportunity to give the child a safe clean place in which they can safetly sleep and play. You c

If we could turn back time (cue cheesy music) and receive advice before we started fostering, I wonder what kind of tips we would find handy. This is perplexing because we're not like any other foster carer. In fact, they're all different, with their own backgrounds, skills and experiences. Our homes are all different, from the size, location, content and even smell. The children we look after are all unique and special in their own way. Their histories all vary, and even though we look after kids from the Bristol area, Bristol itself is diverse, marking and shaping these kids in varying ways. The kids all have their own personalities, likes and dislikes. Some will be big or small (usually small tbh) for their age... some will be bright, some will be a bit behind in school. Some will love your roast dinner, and others wont even sit still long enough to try your Yorkshire puddings. Given the variety of carers and the range of children who need looking after, giving tips

Someone once told me the aims of fostering were twofold. Firstly, and more importantly, a foster carer in looking after a child in care is providing a safe place for them. Somewhere where they won't be hit by Dad, or won't see Mum take drugs. Somewhere where their possessions are respected and clothes won't be sold off. for peanuts. Somewhere they have time and space to do their schoolwork, play with friends and be able to sleep safely at night, knowing no one will sneak into their room. The second aim, which in the long run one could argue is more important, is to let the child you're looking after be a kid again. Many children coming into care have seen and experienced things you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy, and these events have made the child grow up beyond their years. A lot of children with siblings will have cooked and cleaned before coming into care. Even eight year olds may have looked after their younger siblings. I've known 10 year o

In fostering, sometimes placements are planned with the child coming into care over a transition period, giving them time to adjust and pack their belongings, and giving their new carer time to get ready, but increasingly more often than not it is last minute. And for good reason too. Social services may have just taken a call from the police who've been to a property following a domestic situation, to go in and find evidence of drug use and unsanitary conditions with children in the home. With the right court order in place for their own safety the children may be (temporarily) brought into care at very short notice. This is the mild end. There are more horrific reasons - a child turning up at school complaining their bottom hurts or that mummy had lots of strange friends over last night doing scary things making loud noises in the bedroom. The list goes on, and on, and on, unfortunately. But serious situations require swift action, even if it ends up being a false alarm a