Why Is There A Need?

Every child and their family are unique, with no two family circumstances being the same. Therefore, fostering is not just a service required for those experiencing a family breakdown or poor housing and living conditions. It is also required for those experiencing a degree of neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Whatever the circumstances surrounding the need for fostering, children will have experienced a separation and feeling of loss from their birth families.

Children express the effects of their experiences in different ways, showing their emotions and feelings by becoming quiet and withdrawn, displaying challenging behaviour becoming defiant and aggressive, having tantrums, being destructive and in some cases displaying inappropriate behaviour towards others.

Other children may find it difficult to form trusting relationships with adults or people in general, and may act either older or younger than their actual age.

To show the diversity of the circumstances surrounding children in foster care, here are some examples. (These are not real people).

Nadeem, aged 12. Nadeem is a Muslim asylum seeker, who does not speak much English. He has come into the country, with no relatives, no identification and nowhere to go. He needs a foster carer who can speak Urdu and understands his cultural and religious needs providing him with access to his community.

John, aged 11. 11-year-old John has just told his teacher a member of his family is sexually abusing him. He needs a somewhere safe and secure, and needs to keep in contact with his family and friends. He needs a foster carer who can cater for his emotional needs, and is in the local area close to his school.

Ashante, aged 7. 7-year-old Ashante has been living with her teenaged mother who needs emergency treatment for a mental illness, there are no relatives who can look after her. She needs a foster carer that can support her emotionally giving her the security of a stable home.