“We want to help children get a better start in life”
Kim and Geoff felt extremely lucky after having their children, that they wanted to help others. 22 years later they’ve fostered 59 children and are now looking for their 60th.
“We want to help children get a better start in life”
Kim and Geoff felt extremely lucky after having their children, that they wanted to help others. 22 years later they’ve fostered 59 children and are now looking for their 60th.
Kim and Geoff had considered fostering for some time before taking their first steps on the road to becoming foster parents. Kim’s desire has always been to give children a better start in life, she said: “If you can help just one child, you get a great sense of achievement.”
The couple felt that they were ready for a new challenge and wanted to give something back. When they had their own children, they felt lucky and wanted to help others.
Within 12 months of beginning their application to foster, they were called to the panel and given the happy news that they had been approved. Kim said: “It’s gone so quickly, I can’t believe we’ve changed the lives of 59 children.”
Kim and Geoff particularly love the rewards they gain from fostering. They currently foster two children aged 15 and 10 and are looking to foster a third.
“I’ve been to a wedding for one of my foster children and I’m now a godmother to one of my foster grandchildren. It’s great seeing them function as a normal part of society and know that I’ve played a part in helping them along the way.”
Kim, who enjoyed a lengthy career as a children’s party entertainer still gets regular visits from children they’ve previously fostered. She said: “One boy visited us recently and expressed how grateful he was for the simple things that I taught him over the years, such as table manners and being polite. Lots of people comment on how well-mannered he is.
“That alone shows that it’s all worthwhile.”
Kim and Geoff work well together as a team and have a good sense of humour, which helps them face any challenges that arise. The children have settled in well over the years and Kim and Geoff are proud of the steps they have taken together. They remain committed and enthusiastic and are excited about their future as their fostering journey continues.
Kim said: ‘’I would advise people who are new to fostering to talk to family and friends about it and it’s worth trying out respite care for the first six months to ensure you’re really the right person for the job. You’ve got someone coming into your house who does everything differently and you have to be quite creative to make sure everyone’s happy and that it’s working for your family.”
It’s estimated that fostering services need to recruit a further 5,900 foster families in the next 12 months in the UK. If you’d like to learn more about the role of a foster carer, then please get in touch with our friendly team - we’d love to hear from you.
