North Ayrshire Council

During Foster Care Fortnight, carers encourage others to offer life-changing support to children

 

Carers have opened up about the joys of supporting a child through life and ensuring they have the best opportunities to succeed.

Within North Ayrshire Council, there are flexible options to foster - with different arrangements possible. This includes the opportunity to provide children & young people with short breaks, interim fostering and/or longer-term care.

The Council’s Families for Children team is also keen to hear from those who feel they could offer a home to children who have disabilities and those who could take a small family group, so that brothers and sisters can remain together.

Foster Care Fortnight runs until Sunday, May 26 and, in support of the drive to attract new carers, the Families for Children team is hosting a Recruitment and Football Fun Day on Wednesday, June 5. 

This year’s national campaign has the theme of #Fostering Moments and two experienced North Ayrshire carers have shared some of their precious memories.

Fiona McBride grew up in a single-parent family with three siblings and when she was a teenager she babysat neighbours’ children and helped to run her local youth club, saying: “So, fostering seemed like the right thing for me and my own family”.

Fiona and late husband Stephen, 57, had their own son Shawn, now 25, and started fostering 14 years ago, going on to care for ten children. She is currently caring for a 15-year-old boy, who has been part of the family for almost ten years, as well as a toddler aged two.

Fiona’s #Fostering Moments include: “When one of our children went swimming for the first time, he was so terrified of the water that it took us three visits to the pool before he trusted me enough to actually be in the water.

“I coaxed him to lie across my hands, promising not to let him go. He relaxed after a few minutes, and was floating so well I dropped my hands. He is now a confident swimmer and has been out sailing in the sea and has taken part in a whole lot of water sports.

“Seven of the children Stephen and I looked after have returned home and almost all of them are still there with their family. So, it has also been a highlight seeing that families can change and - with support - look after their children. To be honest, just watching these children flourish is a great reward”.

Elizabeth Malone’s own parents were foster carers, so she was used to having lots of different children around when she was growing up. Along with husband Kevin, 51, she started fostering 15 years ago and says it has been “the best decision” they have ever made.

Elizabeth, 51, who has fostered more than 30 children, explained: “We waited to foster until our own children were at school, and we included them in the decision as they would be sharing their home – and their mum and dad!

“We have found fostering very rewarding, although it is a tough road at times. Our #Fostering Moments include getting visits from some of the kids at Christmas. We have three children we still get to see after they moved on to their ‘forever families.’

“We have been privileged that their parents let us keep in touch. Knowing they are happy and enjoying family life – after having a difficult start in their lives – is the best feeling in the world.”

Both Fiona, 55, and Elizabeth have felt very well supported throughout their carers’ journey by the Families for Children team and would recommend caring roles to others.

Elizabeth added: “I would definitely recommend fostering. Our hearts burst with pride knowing we are a part of these special children’s journeys. In fact, if we hadn’t fostered our own family wouldn’t have been complete.

Councillor Margaret Johnson, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “I would like to thank Fiona and Elizabth for sharing their #Fostering Moments, and I hope by doing so they have encouraged other people to find out more about fostering and how rewarding it can be.

“I also hope as many people as possible attend the Recruitment and Football Fun Day, have a great day out and discover more about fostering and adoption opportunities here in North Ayrshire.”
Ends

On Wednesday, June 5 from 10am to 3pm, a Recruitment and Football Fun Day will be held at Kilwinning Community Sports Club, Pennyburn Road, Kilwinning, where people can find out more about fostering.

The event has been organised by the Council’s Families for Children team and the football matches kick off at 1pm.

Funds will be raised on the day for The Friends of the Ghillie Dhu Crew, which supports the Irvine-based Ghillie Dhu Crew.

The group is named after male fairies in Scottish folklore and supports its young members to make friends, learn and experience new activities.

On the day, you can find out more about fostering and adoption opportunities, have some football fun and take part in the group’s fundraising raffle. Simply head along to the sports club on the day, speak to the team and find out more.

The Council is currently seeking foster carers, with a range of options available including Short Break Care, Supported Care, Interim Fostering and longer-term support for young people.

For more information, please email the team at adfos-enquiry@north-ayrshire.gov.uk call 01294 310300 (option 4 then option 1) or go directly to the website at tinyurl.com/fostering-northayrshire