A single mum and a teenage student have revealed how long-term foster care can change the lives of vulnerable young children.
Gail Osborne, from Huddersfield, has been a foster carer for almost two years while 18-year old Marcus has been living with his current foster carers since the age of 11.
With around 85 local children in desperate need of permanent foster homes, both have thrown their weight behind an appeal by Kirklees Council to find long-term foster families.
Unlike short-term foster care, where children usually go back to their birth families or are adopted, long-term fostering is needed when adoption isn’t possible.
Long-term placements can have massive benefits for the child, keeping them closer to their friends, family and everything they know.
Gail, 41, who had a son Isaac, welcomed little Jacob into her home when he was just three years old and has seen him thrive.
Gail was a single mum and wrongly believed that would prevent her from becoming a foster mum.
“After talking to Isaac about it, who was seven at the time, I contacted Kirklees Council’s fostering team. From those initial enquiries I was approved as a foster carer in just six months.
“I was soon approached about fostering a three-year-old boy on a short-term basis. Jacob slotted in straightaway and it wasn’t long before I was asked if I could look after him until he reached adulthood.”
Jacob is now five and Gail says she has been told he could have developmental problems in the future but she has been promised support every step of the way.
“His previous foster carers had already done a fantastic job but once Jacob knew he had a permanent home I immediately saw a difference in him,” said Gail.
“Previously he’d held on to his feelings and was almost robotic at times but now he has complete trust in us and knows it’s OK to feel upset, angry or sad.
“He knows he can be himself with us because we are his family.”
Isaac and Jacob now refer to each other as “big brother” and “little brother” and Gail said: “I’m extremely proud of them both.”
Long-term fostering is something that has also helped teenager Marcus despite a traumatic start to life.
His early years were marred by neglect and physical abuse, leaving him with deep-rooted emotional and anger issues meaning he was often excluded from school.
Placed into care at the age of eight and following several short-term placements, he eventually went to live with Cleckheaton foster carers Jane and Andrew Bottomley, where he has remained.
Marcus said he had been through a “rollercoaster” of emotions but he “just clicked” with Jane and Andrew.
“At first my old emotions remained but for the first time I had stability. Jane and Andrew spent a lot of time listening to me, trying to understand me and what made me tick. Crucially, they believed in me.
“I was able to remain in the same school and I now assist other children in care through a Kirklees Council scheme and I’m about to embark on a health and social care course, which will eventually enable me to work with people who have additional needs.”
To find out more about long-term foster caring with Kirklees Council visit www.kirklees.gov.uk/fostering or call 0800 389 0086.
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