Shropshire Fostering supports local children who are unable to live with their birth parents by providing them with safe, stable and loving homes. Foster carers across the UK play an essential role in offering guidance, care and a nurturing environment, helping young people build confidence and reach their full potential.
Whether it’s short-term, long-term, emergency or respite fostering, every placement makes a profound impact on a child’s life.
Myth-Busting: Common Misconceptions About Fostering
Despite the incredible rewards of fostering, misconceptions often deter people from taking the first step in becoming foster carers. Let’s clear up a few myths:
“You have to be married to foster.”
Not at all! Foster carers come from all backgrounds – single, married, or in a partnership. That could be a same sex partnership too, as many carers are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
“I need a big house.”
A spare room is essential but that’s it in terms of space. Fostering is about providing love and stability, not square footage!
“I must have parenting experience.”
Some foster carers have children, others don’t. Experience can help but training & ongoing support is provided to ensure new carers feel confident in their role.
The Rewards of Fostering: A Carer’s Testimonial
Paula has been fostering with Shropshire Fostering for six years. She says:
“It is the most worthwhile thing we have ever done. People often ask, how can you say goodbye to the children? It’s easy, we get an opportunity to care for children who can’t be with their families for one reason or another. During this time, we get to nurture and care for them when they have no one else.
“We get to show them new experiences, some children have not been to the beach or in holiday in the UK before, for instance and show them kindness and love. When we have to say goodbye, we are happy that we were there for them and made their time in care as nice as it could be.
“Our Supervising Social Worker is a huge support to us and, being part of the local authority, the team is on hand for everything from potential placements to claiming our travel expenses.”
Can You Make a Difference?
Fostering is both emotionally and financially rewarding. If you’ve ever considered opening your home and heart to a child in need in Shropshire, now is the time! Fostering for your local authority provides you with full training, regular payments whether you currently have a looked-after child or not, plus a strong fostering network to guide you every step of the way.
If you’d like to know more, please attend one of Shropshire Fostering’s 30-minute webinars. You can book on via the website below, where you can also download a free information pack.
