The annual Foster Care Fortnight campaign each May highlights the invaluable benefits of being a foster carer and shows how these ordinary people play an extraordinary role in helping to transform young lives.
Caring for children has been at the heart of the work of St Cuthbert’s Care since the charity was founded by the Catholic Church in 1946. Its small and friendly fostering service, Fostering North East, is part of the charity’s continued work with children.
Although Fostering Fortnight sharpens the focus on fostering, Fostering North East is always searching for new foster carers who are able to provide stable, nurturing and supportive homes for children unable to live with their own families.
Each one of their much-valued team of foster carers is constantly in demand to become the loving family needed by an ever-increasing number of children and young people, but available places are sorely limited. Young people placed with long-term carers, for example, can remain with their foster family until they are 18 years old or beyond, so there is always a desperate need for more carers.
Glynnis and Chris McNaughton have been foster carers with Fostering North East for over 10 years and they currently care for three young people. Their eldest, Rebecca, has just turned 18 and is currently applying for a place at university. Like any young person, Rebecca is excited about her new venture, but, unlike many, she has had to overcome a number of very difficult issues from her past to get to this stage.
“Sometimes I still can’t quite believe I’m going to university,” said Rebecca. “It’s a dream come true and one I wouldn’t even have been able to think about had it not been for Glynnis and Chris.”
“I can’t begin to explain all the ways they have helped me while I’ve been growing up and, even now, I’m still relying on them while I prepare to go to university. I’m looking forward to being a bit more independent in the future, but I don’t think anyone ever stops needing the support of their family and it means so much to know Glynnis and Chris will always be there for me.”
“Children don’t come into care because of their own issues, but because of their situation,” said Glynnis. “Being a foster carer isn’t for everyone, but if you have a caring and nurturing disposition – and are well organised – that’s a great place to start. Be realistic and take one step at a time; you’ll be amazed by the difference you make. It is hard work but, despite this, we still get more out of it than we put in.”
“If you think you’d like to foster, I can’t recommend Fostering North East highly enough,” added Glynnis. “Their personal, informed support has been invaluable over the years in helping us to be the best foster carers we can be. I think the individual support they offer can only come from a small team like theirs and that’s been really important to us. No matter who we speak to on the team, they know us all so well.”
If you would like to find out more about the many different ways you can foster, please contact Joann Gibson, Fostering North East Operations Manager, on 0191 228 0111.