A campaign to recruit more foster carers is currently taking place.

One couple from Peel have spoken to the Courier about the challenges and rewards of helping to provide a brighter future for children who have had a tough start in life.

Pauline Walters described some of the emotional rewards she and her husband Glenn have experienced as Fostering First foster carers in the past two years.

She said: ‘Fostering means getting to meet some wonderful children. If you care for a child who has not received the love they ought to have, you get so much more love back from them because it’s something that they need and appreciate so much.’

Pauline was a teacher but gave up her career to become a foster carer, and Glenn is pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Peel.

When she is caring for a foster child who is of school age, Pauline now works part-time as a nanny. She grew up in the island, and Glenn is from London.

They met at a school in India where they were both working, and then returned to live in England before moving to the Isle of Man in 2010.

With two children of their own – Hannah, aged 12, and Esther, aged 13 – Pauline and Glenn were initially concerned about the impact which fostering could have on their family.

‘We knew we could provide a loving home for foster children,’ said Pauline. ‘But initially we were concerned about the possible negative effects becoming foster carers could have on our own children. We worried about foster children creating problems which could affect our family.’

Pauline feels that these initial concerns were influenced by television news and drama programmes which often tend to create a misleading image of children in care by portraying them as disruptive or violent, or having drink or drug problems.

However, for Pauline and her family, the experience of fostering has been quite different, and looking after foster children has only involved the same challenges any parent would experience caring for their own children.

Of course, like all Fostering First carers, the Walters family completed a comprehensive assessment and training programme to prepare them for any challenges which they may face, and they continue to receive advice and support.

Pauline and Glenn decided to opt to care for children the same age or younger than their own daughters, so the couple had the confidence of knowing they had experience of caring for children in that age range.

They have provided respite care for babies and toddlers (respite care can be for a few hours or a few days) and cared for a toddler who was with them for six months before being adopted by another family.

The Walters also looked after a boy of primary school age for almost two years – and saying goodbye to him was, says Pauline, one of the biggest challenges.

However, she adds that fostering has been a positive experience for the whole family.

She said: ‘Our daughters have loved having babies and toddlers at home, and the older foster children we have cared for have become their friends, and remained friends after they have moved on. It’s such a wonderful experience, to care for a child from a difficult background who has not had the stimulation and nourishment that they need.

‘As a foster carer it’s a great privilege to see them flourish when they do receive the love and care they need. I’ve benefitted from experiencing that, it’s very special.’

The Walters are supporting a Fostering First campaign to find more couples or individuals who can provide similar care for children in care.

Fostering First host monthly drop-in sessions to allow anyone interested to find out if fostering is for them. Sessions for the next two months – which are all at Bourne House, 97 Woodbourne Road, Douglas – are on Thursday, April 28, from 4pm to 6pm and May 27 from 5pm to 7pm.

Fostering First is also supporting Foster Care Fortnight (May 16 to 29) which is an annual campaign organised by the UK Fostering Network.

This year’s theme is ‘Time to Foster, Time to Care’.

To find out more about fostering just attend one of the drop-in sessions, phone 631947, or email fosteringfirst@thechildrenscentre.org.im

Source: IOM Today