Northampton foster carers say fostering gives children security, safety and hope
Lesley and Brian Beavis have fostered for 20 years and say it helps them use the skills they learnt from raising their own children.
A Northampton couple who have fostered for 20 years say it helps them use the skills they learnt from raising their own children.
Lesley Beavis who is 65, and Brian Beavis who is 72, have looked after around 25 children over that time with TACT Fostering.
Brian tells us they got into fostering as a good way to put their parenting skills to good use, after their own children left home:
"Just when we thought, not perfected the art of parenting, but got quite good at it, our own children flew the nest and we thought well, what are we going to do with it (the skills) now?"
The couple say they have kept in touch with many of those they have looked after over the years, and often have moments that show they how meaningful the time the children spent with them has been.
Brian and Lesley remembers one child who sent a note six months after he left them to say 'thank you for looking after me.'
"You don't expect these things, once the child has gone back to their parents, you expect them just get on with their lives and forget all about you, but sometimes what you've done for children it really does touch them."
Brian says the pair are lucky their own children and now grandchildren have always accepted their foster children as part of the family:
"We have some young grandchildren that are around the age of some of the children we've had, and they've accepted the foster children as part of the family, and it's been great."
They say the ongoing support and training from TACT is invaluable, but say the support they get from the other foster families is an incredible help:
"You listen to the other foster parents and how they've dealt with situations and you think, oh I never thought of that before."
Lesley says she sees no reason why they should stop fostering:
"As long as we are fit and well, and obviously we have to have medicals and keep up to standard with TACT."
Brian agrees:
"If you're still fit enough and you have the enthusiasm, I don't see any problem."
The need for foster care families
Figures released at the end of 2024 show the number of people choosing to foster in England is declining for the third year running, with six per cent fewer fostering households compared to 2021.
The UK’s leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network, has been calling on the government to take urgent action and introduce a new fostering strategy to ensure all children can receive the best care for their needs.
The 2024 Fostering in England data published by Ofsted shows there were 42,615 fostering households in England last year, compared to 45,370 in 2021.
The Fostering Network has estimated that a further 6,500 fostering families are needed in England to ensure all fostered children can live with the right family for them. The Government announced £4 million in the budget for regional fostering recruitment hubs but it is unclear how this will address the current challenges.
You can find out more about Fostering with TACT Fostering on their website https://tactfostering.org.uk/ and about Fostering Events with Northamptonshire Children's Trust on their website https://nctrust.co.uk/fostering/fostering-events/