Fostering children is an extremely rewarding experience for the foster parents, and provides an amazingly satisfying purpose in people’s lives. It can also give the children a second chance at a better life, as foster care provides them with a stable and loving environment when they need it most.
Fostering involves children and young people being cared for by a person or people who are not members of their own birth family. Every foster carer’s journey is different, this is because the children and young people placed in foster care are from a diverse range of backgrounds and will display different behaviours depending upon their experiences.
If you are looking to start your foster care journey and help others who need a safe environment to call home, and maybe doubting whether or not you fit the bill, chances are you already do! New Life fostering does not have fixed ideas about who makes a good foster carer. This is because all children have their own unique heritage, therefore, we are looking for foster carers from a wide range of backgrounds, races and religions, who are warm, caring and open to learning and have the time and patience to look after children and young people.
We accept applications from single people, same sex and cohabiting couples, as well as married couples. You do not need to own your own home or have your own children in order to become a foster carer. We also provide training and support to our foster carers to ensure that children and young people receive a high quality of care and head towards a brighter future.
We do have a few things we ask you to think about before you can make an application:
- Have a spare bedroom for the foster child
- Ability to write and speak English
- Able to pass a DBS and a medical check
- Have an understanding of the needs of children and young people;
see beyond their behaviours - A commitment to attend training and support groups
At New Life, our professional team will during the assessment process, explain and help you understand the potential changes you may need to make, and guidance on how fostering can be a positive and rewarding experience. There are of course a few more things to bear in mind when wanting to become foster parents, and the process will be made as smooth-sailing and simple as it can be. The biggest factor in the whole fostering process and wanting to take on this admirable role in other children’s lives, is having a huge heart and bundles of compassion and love. We understand how fostercare can really shape people, and we want to help in allowing others to thrive in warm and family-orientated spaces to have the opportunity to blossom and strive towards a positive future.
To understand how the foster care system works in more detail, click here to access more information. If becoming involved in foster care is something that entices you, or something you have wanted to pursue for some time, we are here to help you take your first steps into the world of foster care.
