Teenager calls for 'amazing' families to foster

Cora, 19, has been in care since she was seven years old

A teenager who grew up in care has called for more "amazing" families to consider fostering.

Cora, 19, from Wiltshire, moved in with her first foster family at age seven, and has lived in the care system ever since – from fostering, to residential care and now supported living.

With dreams of training to be a paramedic, she told the BBC how being fostered had been a "massive thing" when it came to overcoming the difficulties she had faced in childhood.

"All a young person or a child needs is for one person to say: 'I understand you, I am here for you, I will look after you'," she said.

Despite living with her first foster parents for only a matter of weeks, Cora said she was still in touch with them and had fond memories of being taught to ride a bike or going on a family holiday as a young child.

"A young person in care – if you give them something little they give you something big back just because they feel appreciated," she said.

"Take your time with a young person, take your time with a child in care because trust me, you will feel just as amazing as they do," she added.

Having spent her teenage years in residential care rather than a foster home, Cora now advocates for more foster parents to consider taking on older children who are often dismissed as "troubled".

Others agree that older children are just as worthwhile fostering. "We like dispelling the myth," said foster parent Graham, 40. "It's just teenagers just being teenagers."

He and his partner Sherly, 42, have spent most of the past decade fostering children and raising them alongside their 12-year-old son.

They currently have two children in their long-term care – siblings who are now 13 and 15.

Graham and Sherly said they liked "dispelling the myth" around fostering older children

"It can be quite challenging, but just being consistent, present and available for them... and being patient and calm is the real key to looking after teenagers," Sherly said.

Both Sherly and Graham described fostering as "very rewarding" – enjoying activities with foster children from getting nails done together to playing video games.

They said seeing children grow in confidence academically was pleasing too.

For any families curious about fostering but not sure where to start, the couple suggested offering respite placements for as little as one week and progressing up to short term placements before thinking about taking on a child or young person long-term.

There are currently more than 460 children and young people in care across Wiltshire, and the council is urgently looking for more foster families.

Councillor Jon Hubbard, who oversees children's services at Wiltshire Council, said the authority was "fortunate to have so many big-hearted people who have opened their homes and helped children and young people turn their lives around".

"Teenagers need love and support just as much as younger children, and fostering them can be incredibly rewarding," he added.

Wiltshire Council is holding several sessions in August, two of which will be held in a park, where members of the public can meet the authority's fostering team.

One of these sessions will take place at King George V Park, Melksham, from 10:00 BST to 14:00 on Thursday 21 August.

The second will run from 13:00 to 17:00 on Sunday 31 August in John Coles Park in Chippenham.