For Julian and Gill, entering the world of fostering meant they could drastically improve the life of a child who had endured a difficult start to life.
The couple, from Lincolnshire, began their fostering journey alongside, and with the blessing of, their own two boys, Luke and George, back in 2000.
They have opened up their home to a number of children since then, but for the past 15 years, the couple have been caring for Callum, who arrived with a number of difficulties, not least, the fact they were told he wouldn’t walk again.
Now aged 18, Callum is as much a member of the family as their own two boys, and with love and encouragement from Gill and Julian, he can now get around on his own and even ride a bike. “When we took Callum in, it was just going to be for 13 weeks, but you form a bond and you grow to love them,” explained Gill.
“I wanted to get involved in fostering children, because I had some really bad experiences in my own childhood so I know how vital it can be to remove a child from a bad situation and provide a good situation, with stability and love.
“It is not all plain sailing, it comes with difficulties for sure, but the rewards are there and when you see them coming out of themselves it is truly wonderful. Callum doesn’t call me ‘Mum’, he has a birth mum. And, instead of calling Julian ‘Dad’, he calls him ‘Dazzle’ which we think is pretty great.”
When a child in care turns 18 years old, they are classed as leaving care, however, due to Callum’s continuing difficulties, he still needs support and so he moves into the ‘Shared Lives’ system.
This means he can remain with Gill and Julian who can support him into adulthood. “We love the fact that Callum can continue to stay with us,” added Julian.
“There are additional headaches when it comes to administration because he is now 18, but these are the young people who need help the most. “It is very rewarding watching him become a big part of this community. Sometimes it feels like the whole village has fostered him. He loves it here and he is safe and happy. We don’t want to disrupt that.
“It is very important that there are people out there to care for these older children. I would always tell anyone considering fostering to do it. It’s a chance to positively alter the course of a young life.”
Growing need for foster carers
In Lincolnshire, there is a growing need for foster carers, especially for older children and children with additional needs. Our fostering families are offered a wide range of support and training, alongside supervision from a dedicated social worker.
There’s also access to therapeutic support staff, a local support network and 24-hour local duty team. In addition to a competitive weekly allowance, additional payments are made at certain times, such as Christmas and birthdays.
There is also an annual retention payment. In Lincolnshire, each application is considered on an individual basis, and you can be a foster carer regardless of your status, sexuality, employment status, ethnicity, or religion.
We want to hear from you if you think you could foster a child. If you would like to know more, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/fostering.
You can also get in touch with the Lincolnshire fostering service by calling 01522554114.