“You do it from the heart… it is a job of the heart.”
“Sometimes I feel blessed. If you have happy children you have a happy household. If your children are unhappy, you become unhappy.”
“When they come to you they see you as the enemy. We have to break down those barriers… they warm to us and accept the situation and we become like mum and dad.”
These are just some of the comments in an emotional video to be broadcast at more than 50 GP surgeries across Birmingham highlighting the joys and benefits of fostering.
The intimate insight is the latest tool being used by Birmingham City Council’s fostering service to recruit quality foster carers.
As well as moving accounts by long serving foster carers in the city, the film – which will be highlighted at an award ceremony for foster carers on Friday October 1st when the video goes live – includes an interview with someone who has been fostered talking about her experiences.
It also features a hard-hitting acted sequence depicting a child suffering physical and emotional abuse at home showing the kind of environment children who enter the fostering service often come from.
Jacquie Smith, manager for Fostering, said: “A lot of people consider fostering but unless they know anyone who has fostered, they have little understanding of what it would be like.
“This unique video aims to provide an intimate real-life portrayal of the fostering experience from those who know.
“It’s moving, inspiring, emotional and true. We hope it will encourage others to explore what can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life.”
Foster carers featured in the video and people who have been fostered will be present for interview at the Foster Carer Recognition of Qualifications Achieved Awards Ceremony on Friday, October 1st, from 10am to 12.30pm at the Saffron Centre, 256 Moseley Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B12, 0DL.
To view the video click on www.WeAreBrace.co.uk/fostering and type in the password “fostering”.
Below are comments from the film from three long-term foster carers and a former foster child:
Sarah says: “After I had my own children, I thought they didn’t have a lot, but they had a nice home, somewhere good to sleep and food on the table.
“It made me think about other children who don’t have that. We had a spare room in the house and I thought we would fill it with someone who needed somewhere warm to be with family around them and I felt we had love to give.”
“It is very emotional fostering. You do it from the heart… good foster carers are very emotional people. It is a job from the heart.”
Deloris says: “At the end of the day you are paid for this job but it is not about the money. It is about the commitment to the children. It is rewarding.
“Sometimes I feel blessed. If you If you have happy children you have a happy household. If your children are unhappy, you become unhappy.”
Anne and Alan say: “When they come to you they see you as the enemy. We have to break down those barriers. They have to accept their situation. They all come with baggage… they warm to us and accept the situation and we become like mum and dad.”
Karylle (who was in foster care) says: “By the time I was five I had been in 15 different places. By the time they came for me I was 12 and the amount of different placements I had been in was unbelievable.
“I don’t know where I would have been right now if they hadn’t come for me. They made me feel a part of everything. I didn’t feel like the foster child. I think those people loved me the day they had me.”
Notes to Editors
• Foster children can be any age between birth and 17.
• New foster carers must be aged between 23 and 60 and live in or within a 25 mile radius of Birmingham.
• The service currently has a shortage of carers for babies and toddlers who have been exposed to drug or alcohol during their mother’s pregnancy or those who have complex needs.
• There is also a shortage of carers for sibling groups, boys, children of mixed parentage and children with special needs.
ENDS
Further information from Shahid Naqvi 0121 303 3635.
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