There are two ways of responding to the question ‘why are children fostered?’ and both are life changing. They relate to the types of fostering that are required to meet individual situations.
Firstly, and most importantly, there is the perspective of the child. This is the priority when finding solutions for fostering children. Put simply, children are fostered because they need to be placed in a safe and nurturing environment, away from a home where this is missing. This might be because:
- there has been a sudden death of a parent along with an absence of extended family members who can support
- of serious illness experienced by a parent
- the child is an unaccompanied refugee, arriving in the UK scared and alone;
- the child has suffered abuse or neglect (or is at risk of suffering abuse or neglect) and needs to be moved to a place of safety.
The types of fostering demands that can be made on those caring for children with different life experiences can be challenging, but equally the task can offer amazing benefits.
This is where the question of what do foster carers do gets answered. It is a carer's duty to help a child or young person deal with their situation the best they can, offering support and guidance along the way. It can be a life changing experience for both parties.
Because it’s not just the child’s life that is changed by fostering. We don’t think there can be anything more rewarding than fostering children and giving a young person a better life; supporting them through difficult times by listening, caring and just being there. Whatever the types of fostering challenges you may meet, these core values will play a major role in finding successful solutions.
You might already work with children and young people and feel that you can put your skills and experience to perfect use by offering a home for a vulnerable child. You might also want to change careers, work from home and make use of a spare bedroom. Most importantly though, when deciding to embark on the journey of fostering children you will have a strong desire to really, really want to help a child in need.
Find out more.