Often the stories you hear about foster care come from the carers themselves or the foster care agency’s perspective.
We wanted to give a little insight into what life is like in a foster family, but this time from the viewpoint of the children themselves. As you might expect, the answers they give are honest and heartwarming in equal measure.
We’ve not added or taken away from any of their answers – some are single word responses that perfectly summarise their feelings just as well as the longer answers they give. The most important thing for all of these children – in their own words – was love.
Henry – Aged 9 – Three years with his foster family
Let’s start with Henry, aged 9, who has been with his Time Out Fostering foster family for three years.
What’s the thing you most appreciated that your foster family provided for you when you first met them?
Love.
What do you enjoy most about being part of your foster family?
Everything, especially how they care for me so much.
What’s the funniest / most memorable thing that has happened during your time so far with your foster family?
Me laughing so much that I wet myself.
What one piece of advice would you give to another young person about to join a new foster family?
If you love them then they will love you, never be afraid to show what you know and your feelings.
How do the Time Out Fostering team support you as and when you need them?
In a creative way, they organise fun things for us to do and Drew plays Minecraft in an awesome way and lets me blow him up!
Michael – Aged 10 – Five years with his foster family
What’s the thing you most appreciated that your foster family provided for you when you first met them?
Love, they showed they loved me.
What do you enjoy most about being part of your foster family?
Having friends.
What’s the funniest / most memorable thing that has happened during your time so far with your foster family?
Going on the Vampire ride at Chessington World of Adventures and staying at the hotel.
What one piece of advice would you give to another young person about to join a new foster family?
Don’t be afraid to show your worries and tell them things.
How do the Time Out Fostering team support you as and when you need them?
They are really nice.
Olivia – Aged 7 – Three years with her foster family
What’s the thing you most appreciated that your foster family provided for you when you first met them?
Love and kindness.
What do you enjoy most about being part of your foster family?
Playing games with me and good food and warm bed and clean baths.
What’s the funniest / most memorable thing that has happened during your time so far with your foster family?
My foster family makes me laugh. having had lots of lovely birthdays and christmases with them.
What one piece of advice would you give to another young person about to join a new foster family?
Stay calm, feel happy and smile and don’t feel scared because they’re nice people.
How do the Time Out Fostering team support you as and when you need them?
They are there for me whenever I need them. They help me feel happier and let me see my parents. They will try and find your parents that you haven’t seen for a long time.
Charlie – Aged 13 – Six years with his foster family
What’s the thing you most appreciated that your foster family provided for you when you first met them?
The thing I appreciated most was that my foster family provided a safe and secure home that I didn’t have to constantly look after myself in.
What do you enjoy most about being part of your foster family?
The thing I enjoy most about being a part of my foster family is that it is very safe and happy to be around.
What’s the funniest / most memorable thing that has happened during your time so far with your foster family?
The most memorable thing that had happened with my foster family was when we went to the science Museum and we saw the original Delorean from Back To The Future.
What one piece of advice would you give to another young person about to join a new foster family?
My piece of advice to any new young people joining a new foster family is that even though it will seem hard at the time, try to open up and be completely honest with them about important subjects.
How do the Time Out Fostering team support you as and when you need them?
Time Out Fostering supports me whenever I need something and I ask for help and support from them, they give that support to me.
Hannah – Aged 11 – Four years with her foster family
What’s the thing you most appreciated that your foster family provided for you when you first met them?
A lovely welcoming home that was small and cosy.
What do you enjoy most about being part of your foster family?
Feeling like I have somewhere I belong that’s not just moving all the time.
What’s the funniest / most memorable thing that has happened during your time so far with your foster family?
Well, Leanne was in Harry’s room and she slipped and it made a fart noise and to this day we still say she farted!
What one piece of advice would you give to another young person about to join a new foster family?
Be strong and give them time to make you feel welcome.
How do the Time Out Fostering team support you as and when you need them?
If I ask them something they will always reply and don’t just leave it and not answer it.
Laura – Aged 10 – One year with her foster family
What’s the thing you most appreciated that your foster family provided for you when you first met them?
They comforted me when I was settling in.
What do you enjoy most about being part of your foster family?
They are very fair and always do what’s right.
What’s the funniest / most memorable thing that has happened during your time so far with your foster family?
When Helen sat on the hammock and the whole thing tipped over.
What one piece of advice would you give to another young person about to join a new foster family?
Don’t ever be afraid to say to your social worker if you don’t like where you are – they will always listen.
How do the Time Out Fostering team support you as and when you need them?
By providing a safe community in which I can express myself .
Could you help to change the life of a young person? Get in touch today for a friendly chat about what it takes to become a foster carer with Time Out Fostering.
