The experiences of three women who have welcomed foster children into their own families are being highlighted as part of a countywide recruitment campaign in North Yorkshire.
Fostering North Yorkshire is in need of foster carers to provide a loving home and support for children in care.
As part of Children of Foster Carers Month, North Yorkshire Council is raising awareness of the service and the significant difference that foster carers can make to children in the county.
In order to recognise the benefits of the service and encourage more people to care for a child or young person, three North Yorkshire women have shared their fond childhood memories of living with foster children and how it enriched their lives.
Abigail Burns, 48, lives in Hellifield, near Skipton. Her parents started fostering when she was seven years old. Her family’s first fostering home was for a two-year-old girl called Kay.
Mrs Burns recalled the special memories and the instant strong bond that she shared with her “new” younger sister.
She said: “I adored her from the very beginning and luckily, we were able to turn that foster placement into adoption. I had a sister at the grand old age of 10, she was tiny, blonde and blue-eyed. I felt the need to love and protect her straight away.”
Over the years, Mrs Burns’ parents continued to offer sleepovers, plus short and long-term foster placements. Every child had the same meal at dinner times to ensure no child felt different or left out. However, like parenting, fostering has its challenging moments and when Mrs Burns hit her early teens, she did admit to her parents that she had felt some jealousy at having to share them.
“I did get over that and would not change my family life in any way as overall the experience has been so overwhelmingly positive,” said Mrs Burns “My parents ensured that we were always involved in any decision-making.”
She added: “Children who were displaced, who were in need of love and attention, made me realise the importance of the kind word, a hug and the giving of your time. My current career is based on the negotiating and problem-solving skills that I developed as being part of a fostering family. Now, as an adult, I have a sister and two nieces that I adore – thanks to having parents who wished to foster and adopt – and in doing so, provided me with such inspirational role models for life.”
Foster carers can provide a home and support to children in care for planned weekends, regular sleepovers, or short breaks, as well as long-term care. Fostering North Yorkshire works with each applicant to see what is right for them. And between now and December 31, newly approved foster carers are being offered a £500 “golden hello” payment.
Carers receive full training and support to help turn young lives around. There are also payments and allowances for every night a carer fosters, most of these are tax-free. Anyone aged over 21 can foster, and they just need space to care and to be prepared for a challenging but rewarding role.
There are currently about 300 households which have signed up to foster children and young people in North Yorkshire.
Jaelithe Leigh-Brown, 45, from Nawton, only knows too well the highlights of being part of the close-knit fostering community. Her parents began fostering when she was 10, and she remembers many happy memories when growing up with foster children.
She said: “We offered emergency cover and had babies and toddlers for weekends. I adored looking after them and would cry when we had to say goodbye as I knew we had so much love and care to give them.
“Then, we got a brother and sister who were the same age as me and my brother. They stayed with us for two years. We grew so close to them and got on well, building dens in the wood, swapping magazines and playing chase in the street. My parents laugh now that they had to count peas when dishing out the tea, so we all felt we got an equal portion!
“They still keep in touch with us now and come to my parents for advice and support.
“Growing up with foster children has ensured I have lots of empathy, patience and understanding. It also made me grateful for the family I have who have nothing to give but love and kindness.”
Meanwhile, Jess Simpson, 25, from Bedale, has urged anyone with the smallest inkling they might like to become a foster carer to take the leap. She candidly explained that while it is not always easy, it is the best thing her parents did.
She said: “I found teenagers the most difficult part of fostering. This is because it is always difficult when you have another person living in your house, sometimes being rude to your parent.
“I just had to remind myself all the things they might have been through and if that was me, I would be exactly the same.
“The teenage girl we do regular sleepovers for has become part of our family. She has changed so much since we have known her – it’s still so rewarding knowing that you helped someone become the best version of themselves just by showing kindness and definitely lots of patience!”
Anyone interested in fostering can visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/fostering for more information.
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