Page 36 - Oundle Life March 2024

FOSTER CARE
Could you?
Foster carer Davina shares her passion for fostering and tells us why she still loves being a foster carer after 20 years of dedication to children and young people.
I became interested in fostering following my life experiences. Before fostering, I had a job looking after people with brain damage. I liked to look after people. I am a single foster carer, but my late husband and I always discussed fostering together. I still had the passion to foster and decided to give it a go on my own at the age of 50.
I remember that once the assessment and training were complete and I was an approved foster carer, I felt very excited, and then a few days later three foster children came to live with me! My fostering journey was finally beginning.
20 years on, I have cared for babies, teenagers and sibling groups, and done parent and child fostering. I found this rewarding and fulfilling and have now looked after 37 children. I keep a note of all the children I have cared for because I looked after them and loved them just as much, no matter how long they were
with me.
Helping teenagers has been
fantastic. I would help them by
ensuring the young people know
how to cook and wash their clothes, although they would still try and get
me to do it for them – as any teenager would! They would know how to look
after themselves and have essential life skills.
One of the best experiences I found from fostering is seeing how the children I have looked after on a long-term basis leave with confidence and knowledge of going out into the big wide world. Many young people still ring me up and ask how I am getting on, which is lovely.
Fostering is pure dedication. You must be dedicated and caring to help children and
young people, to prepare them for when they leave you. That is important, especially when looking after children long-term and seeing their growth over the years. I love fostering
and, to me, it’s not a job. My current young person living with me said she would return to living with me after university and stay here until she becomes completely independent, which would be wonderful.
Could you be a foster carer? Not all children require long-term care. We also need foster carers for short-
term placements, respite care, and to provide temporary homes to support young parents and their babies. Get in
touch with Nexus
Fostering to start your fostering journey.
Contact details: 01223 903 503
www.nexusfostering.co.uk/cambs
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