"Magical" - East Yorkshire foster parent on changing young people's lives
East Riding of Yorkshire Council are asking new foster carers to come forwards.
A woman from East Yorkshire has described the highs and lows of being a foster parent. Alison Rooks and her husband first discussed fostering when they met on their first date. In the past 11 years, they've fostered around 70 children and babies.
Alison said being a foster parent - like any parent - will have tough moments, but that seeing the impact made on young people's lives makes it all worth it - even when it's time to say goodbye to someone they've been fostering.
She said: "We moved a baby on and it was like I left a little piece of my heart there with her. I watched this Grandad look at this little girl, and he looked at her and said 'I'm going to be your grandad'. I looked at his face and thought 'this family is going to adore this child'. It was pretty magical.
"When we lose them, when they do move on it's heart-breaking, but you're giving a child a sense of belonging, giving them safety, giving them stability, routine, building their self-esteem and giving them confidence."
East Riding of Yorkshire Council say they're desperately short of foster carers for some children who are most in need of a place of safety and nurture.
Councillor Victoria Aitken, portfolio holder for children, families and education at East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: "I would urge anyone who is even in the remotest bit interested to get the ball rolling and make that initial call - you could help a child to thrive and become the best person they can be when they need it most."
Alison said: "The need for foster carers is just unbelievable. If it's something that sits there with you, a thing that's nagging away at you that doesn't go away, you need to make that call."