Foster carer Sue Neale, aged 54, from Maldon in Essex, has shared the emotion she felt on receiving a Mother’s Day card from one of the young people she looked after.
Sue said,
“The card took me by surprise because I hadn’t realised how much of an impact I’d had on this young person’s life. This reinforced that what I am doing for my foster children is right and that it can make such a difference to them.”
Essex foster carers like Sue are providing a safe and nurturing environment for young people across the county, but more are needed to keep up with the rise of children
coming into care.
Sue said,
“The most fulfilling part of fostering young people is building those relationships. When a foster child comes to you, it can take a while for them to trust you, but when you start to see them grow and flourish in their life, it’s the most rewarding thing
to see.
“You may only be a small part of their journey, but you can still have a positive impact on their life and build these amazing relationships, even after they’ve moved
on.”
Essex County Council have been successfully matching carers with foster children for over 50 years and are urging more people to consider becoming foster carers to keep
up with the rising demand. There is a particular need for more Essex foster carers who can provide homes for children with disabilities.
Cllr Beverley Egan, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Early Years at Essex County Council, said:
“Our foster carers help build better, brighter futures for hundreds of children across Essex every year, and we need more people like Sue to consider fostering.
“There are many ways you can be a foster carer today; you can be full-time, part-time, or just at the weekends, fostering teenagers, younger children, or children with
disabilities; the smallest amount of time can make the biggest difference to a child’s life.
“Nobody should discount themselves, if they feel they don’t have the right experience or a suitable home to accommodate a child, give our friendly team
a call.”
Essex County Council offer all foster carers high-quality bespoke local training with an active network of support groups providing opportunities to meet and learn from
other carers. It also offers 24/7 local support, a dedicated social worker and access to a team of clinical psychologists.
Sue said,
“The fostering team at Essex County Council have been so supportive since day one. Having someone to call when you need advice is invaluable. This helps you, which in turn also helps the children you foster.
“I have learned so much and I continue to learn with every young person I foster, but I also learn from other foster carers. I have met so many amazing foster carers
who have helped me in so many ways.”
Sue wants to encourage people in Essex who are thinking about fostering, to give Essex County Council a call to find out more information.
“Fostering has completely changed my life. If you’re thinking of fostering, I can honestly say that it is one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever had, but it is one of the
most rewarding as well, and it’s one I don’t ever want to end.”
