SUE and Des have been fostering children and young people for an incredible 32 years.
As part of #FosterCareFortnight, Dorset Council are shining the spotlight on those who have contributed to the county’s “fantastic fostering community.”
The couple started fostering when they lived in Wales before moving to Dorset some 30 years ago. During this time they’ve fostered over 50 children: in addition to having three birth children and an adopted son!
Speaking about how the couple first started fostering, Sue says:
"In my early 20s, I saw a sign in a shop window in Wales asking if people could offer a child a break through a weekend respite scheme. It didn’t take us long to decide we wanted to find out more and we soon found ourselves going through the approval process. Once we were approved, we were able to offer care for a child which was a tremendously rewarding experience."
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“Shortly after, we moved to Dorset and brought our approval with us. This meant we could immediately offer respite care in our new Dorset home and we carried on fostering when our children were born.”
The latest figures, published by Ofsted, found that there were 45,370 fostering households in England with 76,640 foster carers in England: an increase of 2% and 4%, respectively, since 2014/15. In the same time period (2014/15 to 2020/21), however, the number of children in foster care grew by roughly 11%.
The couple has looked after children aged between 0 and 18 with many of them having additional needs. They currently have permanency for a seven and 15 year old: whilst a young girl fostered who they fostered aged 13 still lives with the couple six years on.
Sue says fostering isn’t without challenge but that it ‘feels incredible’ when the young persons start to settle. She says:
“I love being a mum and fostering is that and so much more. Combining running a home and family, with being a professional who’s reporting, working and advocating for the child in meetings, and juggling all their different needs, means there is never a dull moment.”
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