After coming to terms with being unable to have children of her own, Kelly looked at both fostering and adoption as a way into parenthood.
In 2020, she decided fostering was the right option for her because she believed she could help more children this way, so she took the plunge and became a single foster mum.
Now, she’s caring for a 12-year-old boy in a long-term foster care arrangement and has shared her story to encourage others who have similar experiences to consider fostering too.
Becoming a single foster mum
People start fostering for all sorts of reasons. Some have been in care themselves while others have transferable skills from raising their own children. And in cases like Kelly’s, it’s an opportunity to experience parenthood while making a difference in vulnerable children’s lives.
Kelly said, “When I found out that I couldn’t have children of my own, I looked into adoption and fostering and decided fostering was the clear option for me because I felt I could help more children along the way.”
“I thought long and hard about fostering, whether I could handle it and whether I could cope with it. Attending the skills-to-foster course was a massive help for me. There were foster parents there to talk to, and they were honest about what it’s really like.”
“It is hard work, but so rewarding, and I’m so glad I chose this path.”
Why Kelly chose ISP
Deciding to become a foster parent is a huge step. But once you know that this is the route for you, the next big step is deciding which fostering provider to apply to. Kelly explained how she found ISP and why it was the right decision for her.
She said, “I chose to foster with ISP because my neighbour was fostering with them at the time, and I’d met his social worker and foster children. He introduced me to ISP, and I’ve never looked back.”
“Being a single foster parent can be tough at times because you haven’t got a partner to help you with day-to-day care. But the support I receive from ISP is brilliant.”
“I’ve got my supervising social worker and therapists that I speak to regularly, who are there for both my foster son and me. I’m also part of a single foster parent group, and I know that if I need anything, I can just pick up the phone and speak to someone from ISP.”
Download our Fostering Guide
If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent with ISP, then download our helpful guide to discover everything you need to know about fostering.
Best fostering moment
Foster parents often tell us that although children and young people reaching and exceeding milestones is special, the most precious moments that remind them why they began their journey happen in everyday life over a period of time. This has been the case for Kelly.
She said, “Since I began my fostering journey, I’ve cared for two young people. The first is nearly 21 and living independently; we’re still in touch, and it’s really nice to see how far she’s come.”
“The young lad who’s with me now is 12 and will be staying with me until he’s 18. The best thing about fostering for me is seeing how far he has come. His confidence levels were so low when he came to me, but now he is at a school that knows how to meet his needs, his confidence has grown and grown.”
“Seeing how far he’s come has just been wonderful – he’s a lovely young lad.”
Kelly’s fostering advice
Over the past 6 years, Kelly has learned a lot and shared her advice for anyone thinking about joining her in transforming young lives.
She said, “Don’t go into fostering with blinkers on because it’s not easy; it can be really hard work, but it is so rewarding to watch these children grow.”
“Before I began fostering, I was told about the level of support I’d receive, but I didn’t realise how good ISP’s support is until I started, and it’s been so vital on my journey, especially as I’m a single foster mum.”
“But the best advice I can give to anyone thinking about fostering is to go into it with an open heart and mind.”
Ready to start your fostering journey?
Inspired by Kelly’s story and want to learn more about fostering? Call us today on 0800 0857 989 or submit your details via our online form.
Our fostering advisors will answer your questions, tell you more about fostering with ISP, and help you begin your fostering journey with confidence.
Fostering stories
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Whether you’re looking for more information about fostering a child or you’re ready to apply, we’re here to help you take the next step to fostering and start your journey.
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Just some reasons to transfer to ISP…
- UK’s most established fostering agency
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- An unrivalled therapeutic training programme
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The company takes the requirements of GDPR seriously in ensuring the privacy and lawful processing of personal data provided to us by you. Please view our privacy notice which explains how the company will manage and use your personal data. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.