As part of our LGBT series of blogs, we speak to foster carer Simon (50) who has been fostering teenagers with his partner Rob (also 50) for 4 years.
How long have you been fostering and how many children have you fostered so far?
We’ve been fostering male teenagers and unaccompanied asylum seekers for 4 years and have looked after 5 children, mostly on long term respite arrangements where we have them every weekend and during the school holidays.
Why did you decide to foster?
This week we chat to our foster carer Naz who has been fostering with her partner Ann-Marie for over 3 years. We wanted to get her insight into fostering as a same sex couple and what her fostering journey has been like so far.
How long have you been fostering?
We’ve been fostering since August 2014
How many children have you fostered and of what ages?
Why become a foster carer with Brighton and Hove Council?
Here are 12 great reasons!
We are proud of our fostering community and the incredible work that our foster carers do for our looked after children. We want to create the very best experiences, support and training for our foster carers so they in turn can provide the most loving, stable and supportive homes for our children.
This week we chat to our carers Rob and Mandy Goddard who have been fostering with us at Brighton and Hove for over 23 years and have fostered more than 65 young people. They were awarded an MBE for their incredible service to fostering in 2015.
As a ‘Barnardos Boy’, Rob was fostered himself in Whitehawk and then stayed with one set of foster parents for his entire time in care. He credits his positive experience in care as the reason that he wanted to give something back and become a foster carer himself.
So has it sunk it that you have an MBE?!
My name is Katie and l am a care leaver! Since the age of four, I am fortunate to have been placed, and remain, with only one long-term Foster Carer. However, when I explain this to people, many assume it’s been an easy journey. It’s certainly not been easy, nor has it been perfect. But living with any family isn’t perfect, and that’s what family life is all about! It’s important to have people there to support you, to inspire you, but furthermore to discipline you, and tell you right from wrong!