A West Lothian foster mum and dad have been praised for making sure siblings in care can stay together.
Foster Care Fortnight wraps up this week and the local couple Joyce and John, have been sharing their experiences to inspire others to get involved.
The couple experienced at fostering with TACT Scotland, tell what it means to them to foster teenagers and siblings.
Joyce explained: “It was exciting being one of the first foster carers to start with TACT Scotland. There were a couple of high-profile cases of child neglect in the news in Scotland at the time, which
ultimately prompted us to find out more about fostering, something we had talked about for a few years.
“I liked the fact that TACT is a charity, and all surplus goes back into the services for carers and young people.
“The application process was friendly and supportive, at the same time it made us reflect on our childhood, life events and how we handled situations. Right after panel, we had two cases put to us. Finding no pressure to accept, we soon heard about a boy of 10, whom we felt a good match for, and he became our first foster child.
“We had about four weeks of meeting our boy for lunches, play dates and sleepovers prior to him moving in. We showed him family photos, explaining the family relationships and dynamics.
“Those first few weeks were exciting, we enjoyed the wonder of his reactions to situations and foods that he hadn’t had before. We bonded, loved and accepted him into our family very quickly.”
Joyce said before he joined the couple the boy had taken on the role of caregiver to his younger brother and sister.
She continued: “He stayed with us for four and a half years and is now coming up to 24 years old. We see him regularly and still carry the love for him.
“His younger brother came to stay with us one year later and is still with us 12 years on. He is almost 20 years old. Whilst they have a bigger age gap than our youngest boys, they love each other, and have that brotherly bond.
“Keeping sibling groups together seemed the right thing to do. If the children will benefit from being together and the carers receive the support they need, I think it is a positive step to take.
“We have not fostered a lot of children; once they stay with us, we stick by them and are lucky to have permanence for our three children. Our two youngest boys are also birth brothers. They came to us at an early age and relied on each other.
“Having good relationships with each child, whatever challenges, whether it is them vying for attention or us organising our time around their individual interests, for example, it is rewarding. Fostering keeps you young and fit!”
Joyce continued: “We have a zest for life and the outdoors, our habits and hobbies have rubbed off on the boys and they all follow in our footsteps. Our two younger boys are learning the bagpipes and drums and were involved in a mass pipe band gathering at Edinburgh Castle.
“TACT’s training and SSW helps so much, especially when we were less experienced. The support and training are very good and helped us through some of the tougher challenges. I do believe we are part of a big TACT family.
If you’re interested in Fostering, find out more here
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