Celebrating the sons and daughters of foster carers

Sons and Daughters Month is The Fostering Network’s annual campaign during October to celebrate the vital contribution which the children of foster carers make to foster care.

Foster4, a pioneering foster carer recruitment service, recruiting foster carers on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Halton Borough Council and Warrington Borough Council are participating in the campaign, recognising and rewarding the important role foster carer’s sons and daughters play in welcoming fostered children into their families.

One such person is Dayna from Winsford who has grown up in a fostering household and is now, a foster carer herself. 

Dayna was about 16 years old when her Mum decided to become a foster carer. She was initially worried about the impact fostering would have on herself and if she would receive less of her Mum’s attention. Dayna’s mother, Wendy said: “I received really good training and support throughout the fostering process and that enabled me to talk to my family and discuss the impact fostering would mean for all of us. This really helped Dayna prepare for our first foster placement and feel more confident about it”.

Dayna also joined a Sons and Daughters Support Group and was introduced to another child whose parents fostered, so she had someone to confide in and share her experiences with.

Dayna’s Mother began fostering two brothers, who she still cares for over seven years later. Dayna explains: “It was difficult at first as the boys were much younger than me and I was shocked by how few social skills they had. They had been left to fend for themselves before being taken into care and didn’t even know how to use a knife and fork. Gradually they became used to their new life and the positive changes in them was fantastic to see.

"I consider them to be very much part of our family, I go out with them shopping and to the cinema and my husband, Johnny, and I provide respite for Mum when the boys will come and stay with us at weekends and during school holidays.”

Early this year, Dayna and Johnathan became approved foster carers with Foster4 and now care for a young boy themselves, who is settling in with his foster family quickly and regularly sees and plays with Dayna’s two foster siblings.

Dayna says that both her time as the daughter of a foster carer and the experience of having foster brothers has inspired her to become a foster carer herself. Dayna said: “I would encourage anyone considering being a foster carer to do their research, talk to other foster carers and find out as much as possible about this rewarding role, contacting Foster4 is a great start.”

Councillor Bob Cernik, Cabinet Member for Children and Families at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “It’s really important to remember the valuable contribution the sons and daughters of our foster carers make to a successful foster home. 

"Stories like Dayna’s, where her own experience of growing up as part of a fostering family has inspired her to become a foster carer herself, are fantastic to hear. I hope this will also inspire other families to consider fostering.”

Councillor Margaret Parker, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s member of Foster4, added: “This campaign is a wonderful way to thank the sons and daughters of foster carers and to remember the important role they play in making foster children feel welcome and settled in their foster home”.

To read more about the brilliant contribution sons and daughters of foster carers make to fostering families, visit: www.foster4.co.uk/sons-and-daughters

If you are considering fostering you can find out more by visiting: www.foster4.co.uk or by emailing: fosteringrecruitment@warrington.gov.uk

Foster4 is a collaboration of three local authorities including Cheshire West and Chester, Warrington and Halton, that recruits and supports more foster carers than any other organisation in Cheshire.

Pictured - Dayna from Winsford.