Fostering gives me purpose after my wife's death

Alan Hudson, from Stafford, continued fostering after his wife, Dawn, died two years ago

A man who fostered children with his late wife has said being a foster carer has helped him move forward after her death.

Alongside his wife, Dawn, Alan Hudson from Stafford began fostering children 25 years ago, which he continued to do after Dawn's death two years ago.

Mr Hudson currently fosters a young girl, who has lived with him for about 18 months.

"I’m 70 years old… my outlook on life is sit at home, do the gardening, and just potter round," he told BBC Radio Stoke, adding: "She’s given me purpose."

"It's also helped me, I suppose, to move forward in my life after the passing of Dawn," he said.

"She's a teenager, so she's given me a bit more than purpose, but it's all good fun."

The couple began by fostering babies, and then turned to long-term fostering.

They took in two girls, who stayed with them until they were 19, and one boy, who left when he turned 21.

"The young people who stayed put... one went to university and graduated," he said, "we’ve changed their life.

"That’s so important - it feels so good and beneficial.

"I'm still in touch with all of them."

'Make the phone call'

More than 12,000 foster carers are needed across the country this year, according to the National Fostering Group, with more than 100 required in Staffordshire and Cheshire.

The group launched its Spare to Share campaign on Friday, which urges people to become foster carers.

Mr Hudson said he would encourage anyone to look into doing it.

"Make the phone call and have a chat with somebody about the possibilities of fostering," he said.

"There’s loads of different kinds of foster care, it's not just one coat fits everybody.

"You never know, it might just work out for you."