Alice

Alice and her wife have been interested in becoming foster carers for a long time. Over the years they have watched a number of friends take on the role and, in some cases, have played a practical role in supporting their friends and helping out with the children.

A few years ago they decided the time was right for them. They applied and went through the assessment process during the pandemic. Once approved they were asked if they would consider taking a child with quite a complex set of needs. Alice tells us about the additional training they had to help them.

Alice is clear that fostering shouldn’t be rushed into. She acknowledges the challenges and the need for a support network. But she also talks of the rewards and the pride in seeing a young boy who’s had such a tough start in life, begin to gain confidence and develop a sense of self worth.

The dog featured in the video is also part of the family. Alice was keen for people to see that having a family pet when you start the process of becoming a foster carer is not a barrier. She did however point out that your pet will also has to be part of the fostering assessment process and tells us that her dog had a 6 page report to fill out!