Foster carers across Swindon share their fondest fostering memories

Foster carers across Swindon are to share their fondest memories of caring for the children to whom they provide loving homes.

It is being done as part of The Fostering Network's annual Foster Care Fortnight campaign, which runs until 26 May.

This year’s theme is ‘fostering moments’, all about celebrating the moments that define fostering journeys, big and small. The moments that build confidence, make young people feel safe, and those that create positive memories.

Throughout the two weeks, Swindon Borough Council’s fostering team will be attending events across the Borough to encourage residents to start their fostering journey. They will also be posting stories from the Council’s foster carers across their Facebook page.

The aim is to raise the profile of fostering and show how foster carers can transform lives.

At present, more than 300 children, from babies to teenagers, are under the care of the council because they cannot stay in their own home.

Around a third of these children and young people are living miles away from Swindon, separated from their family and friends because the council does not have enough local foster carers who can provide a home.

Sandra and Resh, who have been fostering for 18 years, said: “We had a little five-year-old boy come to stay with us 18 months ago.

"He was in permanent flight or fight mode and he could barely write his name. He faced exclusion from school so we moved him to our local village school part time.

“Our boundaries were fair and consistent to help him feel safe and slowly the walls came down. We read to him every night, until he could read to us, and now we read to each other by sharing books. We also helped him with his writing and maths.

“Eighteen months on, he is now pretty much in full-time education. His reading is above his age, he is top of the class in maths, and his writing is exactly where it should be. He is a loving, caring, funny little boy who is living life and not just surviving.

“He is the perfect example of what good solid care can achieve. This amazing transformation is proof that good care can turn a child’s life around.”

Clara, who has been fostering for 15 years said: “I recently received in the post the most beautiful picture from a young person who went onto adoption. It said “Don’t forget I love you” with lots of love hearts.

"It made my heart melt to see it, and it makes me remember why I do what I do and that the young person still remembers me.”

Anyone interested in speaking with the fostering team throughout Foster Care Fortnight, can pop along to one of these sessions:

• Monday, 13 May at North Swindon Library (SN25 4AN) from 2pm to 5pm
• Wednesday, 15 May at the Co-op, Old Town (SN1 3EG) from 10am to 2pm
• Thursday, 16 May at Asda, West Swindon (SN5 7DL) from 12noon to 4pm
• Friday, 17 May at Tesco Extra (SN1 2EH) from 11am to 3pm
• Saturday, 18 May at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust: Country Comes to Town event at Lydiard Park (SN5 3PA) from 10am to 4pm
• Monday, 20 May at The Meadows (SN2 5DE) from 12noon to 2pm
• Wednesday, 22 May in the Great Western Hospital foyer (SN3 6BB) from 11am to 3pm
• Thursday, 23 May at Asda Walmart, Orbital Shopping Park (SN25 4BG) from 12.30pm to 4.30pm
• Friday, 24 May at Waitrose, Wichelstowe (SN1 7BX) from 11.30am to 3.30pm
• Saturday, 25 May at the Central Library (SN1 1QG) from 10.30am to 1.30pm

Cllr Paul Dixon, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care, said: “Making the decision to become a foster carer is a huge one to take, and you would probably have a lot of questions for our fostering team at the Council and carers who have been part of our amazing community for many years.

“If you would like to find out more about starting your fostering journey, please pop along to one of the events throughout Foster Care Fortnight.

"You will have all of your questions answered and will get to hear more about the fantastic work our foster carers do”.

To find out more about fostering in Swindon visit: www.swindon.gov.uk/fostering. Alternatively, call 07917 503447 or email [email protected]