Wiltshire foster family 'enriched' after giving child safe sanctuary
Spencer Mulholland welcomed a child seeking unaccompanied asylum into his home
A foster carer in Wiltshire says his family has been enriched after welcoming a child seeking unaccompanied asylum into his home.
Spencer Mulholland is sharing his experience as Wiltshire Council is calling for more of us to follow in Spencer's footsteps and help young people escape dangers in their home country.
Spencer and his wife Lisa have fostered with the Council for four years. He said, as well as helping the young person being cared for, it's given his own family an experience they would never have had before.
"We’ve welcomed this young person into our family and he’s enriched our family completely. We’ve learned loads of new things from him and he’s basically become part of our family."
Spencer said helping this young person wasn't greatly different to fostering any other child or young person: "it’s very much like being a foster carer for any other young person but they’re from another land and they’ve got different cultures and you really just have to adapt a little to make them feel as welcome and secure as possible."
He revealed that opening his home to allow the young person refuge has made an enormous difference.
"We know it has made a massive impact on their life, just from what I can see and what he’s told us. It’s basically put his life back on a different course. When Lisa and I started off on this journey we really wanted to make a difference to a young person’s life and I believe by doing this, we really have," Spencer said.
He's encouraging all of us to consider offering sanctuary to a child seeking unaccompanied asylum as a foster carer: "You really could make a huge difference to someone’s life and change their life forever."
Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “We are so fortunate that we have foster carers like Spencer who can help make an amazing difference and help these young people realise there is a safer, happier alternative.
"The story of how the young person he cares for has made a new life for himself is a real inspiration. If people want to find out more, I’d ask them to get in touch and we can talk to you without any obligation.”
Foster carers need to be aged 21 and over and have a spare room. You need time to care for a child and a willingness to understand young people who have experienced trauma and loss. Fostering payments are from £400 to £740 a week, per child depending on skills and experience.
More information on fostering can be found on the Council's website or by emailing fostering@wiltshire.gov.uk, calling 0800 169 6321 or texting the word Foster to 60002.