'Fostering has big challenges but massive rewards'

Bristol carer Andrea Warnes started fostering 10 years ago

Fostering has "big challenges but massive rewards", said a carer urging more people to help out.

Bristol carer Andrea Warnes began fostering 10 years ago and is currently looking after three children temporarily.

It comes after Bristol City Council launched an urgent call for fosterers due to a dire shortage in the city.

Ms Warnes said the impact foster parents can have on children is "really special".

'Alternative care'

Carers can look after children from just one weekend a month to more permanently for several years, and the council provides training, support and funding.

Research showed the best outcomes for children in care was when they were placed with foster families, rather than staying in children’s homes.

In looking after three children temporality, Ms Warnes was currently taking part in "alternative care" which used to be known as a respite .

This is when their normal foster carers need a break or are in hospital, for example.

Hundreds of children are “looked after” by the council, either because they are orphans or their parents are unable to care for them

Ms Warnes said: “Sometimes you get challenges within the household and everybody needs space to calm down, so they come here.”

Children are sometimes placed with carers in an emergency, just for a night or two, or other times for much longer while their future is being decided by a court.

Ms Warnes and her husband were first drawn to fostering after watching a television programme which focused on social workers, foster children and particularly siblings who cannot always be kept together.

The longest they have cared for a child is seven years - a teenager who is now 17 years old and has recently moved out.

'Really special'

Ms Warnes, who has a 16-year-old daughter, said: "He’s moved on now and I message him now and then to check in, and I get sentences in my reply and even a kiss the other day.

"He would never do that before," she added. "Maybe I have made a bit of an impact on him. That’s really special.”

The fosterer admitted there were challenges too, with many foster children having suffered trauma and struggle to regulate their emotions more than other children.

But there is extensive training and support available for foster carers.

Fostering can be as short-term as a weekend a month, to as long-term as looking after a young person until they turn 18.

Financial support is offered by the council, to help potential carers cover the costs of looking after children.