A Manchester couple who have dedicated almost two decades to fostering have shared their experience of welcoming nearly 30 children into their home.
Derek and Carol, both 71, began fostering 19 years ago and are preparing to celebrate their 20th year as foster carers. In that time, they have cared for 29 children, from babies to teenagers, offering each one a safe and loving home.
Their story reflects a growing trend, as according to National Fostering Group, over two-thirds (67.6%) of their foster carers are aged over 50, showing that compassion knows no age limit.
For the couple, fostering was a natural step. They had been young parents and grandparents and had always been surrounded by children. He describes the decision to foster as โa natural progressionโ for their family.
Over the years, they have supported children through every stage of care, from those returning to birth families to others moving on to adoption or long-term placements. Derek says that although every situation is different, each child becomes part of their extended family.
โWhen you get the backstory with these children, itโs heartfelt really,โ he says.
โTheyโre part of us and our family. They move on, some sooner than others, and itโs just been that way for the last 19 or 20 years.โ
Derek still remembers the first children who came to live with them, two brothers whose mother was struggling. They stayed with Derek and Carol for more than a year before being adopted. Many of the children they have fostered over the years have stayed in touch, with some now grown up and raising families of their own.
โWe were asked to carry on, so we said, of course we willโ, Derek says.
โThe children are well looked after and happy, they arenโt always when they arrive, but when they leave, they are, so thatโll do me.โ
Now caring for a two-year-old boy, Derek and Carol have no plans to stop. They continue to open their home to children who need it most, finding joy in helping them settle and grow.
Derek admits fostering may not be for everyone, but says the rewards far outweigh the challenges.
โItโs great and rewarding, but youโre dealing with situations that make you realise how lucky you are. Itโs never the childโs fault.โ
Freedom of Information data collected by National Fostering Group shows that 12,500 more foster carers are needed in the UK in order to meet the growing number of children who are entering the care system.
After nearly 20 years of fostering, Derek and Carolโs story is a powerful reminder of the difference carers can make to childrenโs lives, and how much fostering can give back in return.
To find out more about fostering, visit National Fostering Group.
