A Tynedale couple who have been fostering babies for three decades say that, thanks to the support they have received from Fostering North East, they would happily relive every moment.
“It’s my life,” says Sue Price who, together with husband Dave, have fostered 19 children and become special guardians to one baby girl with significant care needs who grew to be part of the family, and who turned 18 this April.
The Prices began their compassionate career with Fostering North East, which is St Cuthbert’s Care’s fostering agency, back in 1984. After being accepted as short term pre-adoption foster parents just six weeks earlier, the Prices were asked to look after a week-old baby boy. “It was a blur of total happiness,” recalls Sue, “I was ecstatic.”
As a child Sue always had a nurturing spirit and hankered after caring for babies. Before she married and had her own children Sue worked as a nursery nurse for the Children’s Society in residential homes around the country. After marrying Dave in 1974 the couple started their own family and, with two sons aged six and seven and a three-year-old daughter, the Prices decided to foster.
“It’s something which fitted in with looking after the children and Dave is very much a family man,” says Sue. “The house used to be full with all the kids from the street playing in it. We didn’t mind about having a mess in the lounge!”
But Sue remembers vividly the heartache of handing over their first fostered baby to the new adoptive parents: “The grief I felt was such a surprise,” she says. “This baby had become one of our own.”
Since then the Prices have been involved in looking after numerous children, some with disabilities and on one occasion they took in a pregnant girl and, subsequently, a baby plus his young dad for five weeks.
“When they go it takes time to get it out of your system. It’s good to know that while you have them you’re giving them love and a safe and secure start. But the thing you will struggle to get your head around is the loss you feel when they have to move on,” warns Sue.
Any reason for foster carers to become necessary in a child’s life will be a highly emotive one. A mother dying from cancer, disability, risk of abuse, or parents overwhelmed by their new addition are all reasons the Prices have been drafted in to give a child a temporary new home. Fostering North East provides our carers with expert support and guidance for such difficult circumstances, including specialist training in dealing with separation and loss, safeguarding children and care for babies born to drug addicted mothers.
As manager of Fostering North East, Liz Guest, has been the agency’s link between social services across the region and the Prices for the last 24 years. Liz stepped down at the end of January, making way for new manager Sarah Croft, but continues to provide Fostering North East with her expertise as senior social worker. Liz introduced the couple to their most recent child who was a little older than the babies they were used to fostering.
“Sue was a little reluctant at first as this little boy, at 17 months old, wasn’t exactly a baby,” said Liz, “But Dave was keen to take him and the placement was vindicated in the glowing report from Gateshead Council’s social services last month which said that they would fully recommend utilising Sue’s invaluable experience, professionalism and compassion again.”
With an ever increasing Christmas card list the Prices now often keep in touch with many of the children and their relatives.
“My rewards are the memories, cards from adopters and birth families, the news of additions to their families, invitations to birthday parties, engagements, weddings and christenings,” says Sue, “But most of all, life goes on and they find happiness and I remember the little part we played in their lives that perhaps had such a significant impact.”
Giving advice to prospective foster carers Sue says: “It’s a most fulfilling thing to do. It’s not always easy and you have to have a strong foundation to stand on with backing from all the family because they are all involved.”
As part of national Foster Care Fortnight 2014, Fostering North East is holding a “Celebration of Fostering” today, Wednesday 21 May, at the Alan Shearer Centre in Newcastle when stalwart carers, the Prices, will be among the carers on our guest list.
Sue said: “Life has changed over the 30 years we have fostered for the charity but the ethos of the work and the support we have received has remained constant and superb. We are proud to say we foster for them and would recommend others to be involved. We would happily relive every one of those years with enormous pride and pleasure.”