Single foster mum Fiona began her fostering journey 10 years ago after her own children fled the nest.
She’s currently fostering two teenage siblings and said, ‘It’s the best thing I’ve ever, ever done.’
From respite to long-term fostering, Fiona has cared for around 17 children and still keeps in touch with many who’ve left her care.
Fiona shares her fostering story, including what it’s like to care for teenagers as a single foster mum, how her journey began, and her advice for those thinking about starting their journey.
How Fiona’s journey began
People start their fostering journey for a wide variety of reasons. Some have lived in care themselves and want to give something back, while others want to start a career with a clear purpose.
For Fiona, her inspiration came from a documentary, she said, “Years ago, I saw a TV programme about fostering which made me want to do it, but my children were at home at the time, so it wasn’t a possibility.”
“I was worried about having somebody in the house that I didn’t know, because obviously, you’re opening your home up to people that you don’t know. You’ve got to have some trust in them. So that was quite daunting.”
“But on the lead up to becoming a foster parent, I went to Rome because my children had moved out, and shared a house with people I didn’t really know properly. That made me realise that I had nothing to worry about, and prepared me for fostering.”
The rewards of fostering teenagers
Since starting her fostering journey, Fiona has made a difference in the lives of more than 17 children and young people. Now, she’s aligned her fostering preferences with her strengths and currently has two teenage siblings in her care on a long-term basis.
Fiona said, “Fostering teenagers is challenging, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m quite young at heart and have experience with teenagers, having raised my own children. It was exactly what I wanted to do, and I’m good at building a relationship with them.”
“By giving teenagers a stable, long-term home, you help them get ready for when they leave care by teaching them how to live in the outside world, which can be quite hard for them.”
“When my teenagers first came to me, they weren’t used to attending school, but I encouraged them, and it’s so rewarding to see them go to school, sit their exams, and move forward in creating a life of their own.”
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.
Building lasting bonds
Many young people who’ve lived in care don’t have the support network that so many of us take for granted, which can make it more difficult when they become parents themselves.
But when you foster, not only do you change the lives of these young people, but you also help shape the futures of their children, especially when you build a bond that you continue to nurture when they’ve grown up and left care.
Fiona shared her experience of building a lasting bond with a teenager who lived with her for two years. She said, “I have a young person that I always look back on fondly. She hasn’t got her dad in her life, and her mum is disabled. She came into care and stayed with me for two years. She’s now got a little girl of her own and is pregnant with her second child.”
“She still sees me as mummy, and it’s so lovely because her little girl sees me as nanny too. Her background and upbringing mean she hasn’t got the support around her like most families have. But she knows she’s always got me and contacts me regularly with updates about her life.”
“When she found her flat and was getting things together, she said, ‘I couldn’t have done this without you and what you’ve taught me.’ It’s an incredible feeling to know that you’ve made such a difference in another person’s life.”
ISP is one big family
When you foster, the support you receive from your agency can make all the difference to your fostering journey, and is particularly important when you foster as a single person.
At ISP, our support for foster parents is unrivalled, and Fiona agrees. She said, “Once I joined ISP, there was no going back. Both the professionals and the other foster parents are all really, really lovely.”
“When I welcomed my first child, I was scared – I’d never done anything like this before. Obviously, looking after somebody else’s child is very different to looking after your own. But the support I received from ISP helped me settle in.”
“There’s always somebody at the end of the phone, and we’ve got a group chat, which really helped me when I first started fostering because I had challenges I wasn’t used to. I’ve learned so much from the therapeutic training and was awarded a City and Guilds certificate for completing it. “
“I would never foster with another agency; we’re one big family.”
Fiona’s fostering advice
Fiona shared her advice for prospective foster parents. She said, “If you’re thinking about fostering a child, go for it!”
“When you start your journey, I would say just be open, relaxed, always listen and get to know each child and build a friendship with them.”
“There are so many children out there that really need a good, decent family, and a safe place to call home.”
Want to learn more about fostering?
Whether you’re new to fostering or are looking to transfer to an agency that provides wrap-around support, extensive ongoing training, generous fostering allowances, and truly understands the needs of children living with trauma, we’d love to hear from you.
Call us on 0800 0857 989 or submit an enquiry form. Our friendly and experienced team is ready to answer any questions you have about fostering and get you started on this rewarding new journey.
Fostering stories
Learn more about transferring today
Transferring to ISP is easier than you think. Speak to one of our fostering advisors today.
Just some reasons to transfer to ISP…
- UK’s most established fostering agency
- Leaders in therapeutic foster care
- We’ll match your allowance at the very least, but often we can beat it
- Wrap-around support from a local team of social workers, therapists, education specialists, and more
- An unrivalled therapeutic training programme
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