Justin and Claire are local council foster carers for Bath and North East Somerset Council. Watch their story or read on to learn more about them in this next edition of our “Get to know our foster carers” series.
“When you’re a foster carer, and you work with just one person you can have a really big impact on their life”
Justin and Claire, B&NES council foster carers
Today we meet Justin and Claire, foster carers for Bath and North East Somerset Council
People’s journey to become foster carers come in all forms, for Justin and Claire, they shared that it was something which they both wanted to do and it was a moment whereby they discussed something they’ve always wanted to do which took them to starting their journey. Claire also shares it was an interaction with a foster carer that put any concerns at rest, “I was with my friend and she introduced me to her (a foster carer), I said to her I’ve always wanted to foster and I’ll do it when my children grow up and her words were, no, do it now, add chaos to chaos.”
The couple share so many different reasons as to what the best thing of a being a foster carer is. Justin shares one of the best things to him is the profound level of impact you can have by working closely with one person for a longer period of time, “when you’re a foster carer, and you work with just one person you can have a really big impact on their life.” However one thing he mentions which we hear repeatedly is that it’s not necessarily the big things, but that little moments can often mean the most, “someone that we fostered when they came to us, they’d never danced and we took them to a wedding and they danced for the first time… so you can see really little changes of them building.” To Claire, something that sticks with her is the memorable conversations around the tea table, “when you have that natural family banter and they’re involved.”
A question we often get asked by prospective carers is how will my children and foster children interact, and Claire adds this is something that has been really successful within their home environment, “when someone’s lived with you for a while that your children and that child that you foster are naturally rude to each other in that really lovely family banter way of just making fun in that really nice way.”
What would they say to anyone thinking of becoming a foster carer? “Fostering can be challenging but sometimes you’re just doing what you do, you’re just parenting somebody, putting those things in you’d normally do.” With the examples they deliver like making sure people have breakfast, going to school and a reasonable bed-time again sharing their focus on delivering the small things and little moments to that child or young person.
As we wrap up this look into the lives of one of our fostering households, we hope their stories have moved you and shown just how much of a difference they make. Their dedication, kindness, and strength are truly inspiring, and we’re so thankful for everything they do. Stay tuned to meet more of these amazing individuals who make fostering possible. Together, we can support and celebrate the incredible work of our foster carers, making sure every child has the chance to grow up in a loving and caring home.
Interested in starting your fostering journey?
Get in touch with one of our experienced, friendly team to discuss your potential future as a foster carer…