All names in the following case studies have been changed to ensure no one can be identified.
Case Study 1
David and Margaret McDonald from Balloch have been fostering children in West Dunbartonshire for 14 years.
We are both now retired but when we started fostering, Bob worked offshore and I was self employed. Although life was busy between our work and having two grown-up children and a young son, we always felt we had room in our home and hearts for another child.
Our son was young when both our daughters left home and he missed their company. David and I decided to foster a child while our son was growing up and then once we started fostering we realised how rewarding and fulfilling it
could be.
We have now fostered 20 children from a two-year-old baby to teenagers. During that time we have received great support and help from the Council along with full training. If we ever needed anything, there was always someone at the end of the phone to help. Fostering has given us a great sense of achievement and satisfaction. Seeing the children achieve their
goals and being given a chance in life, the same chances my children had, is why we do it.
People should just enquire and get more information. Fostering gives you a better insight into kids and to see the children in our care flourish is the greatest feeling in the world. It is simply one of the most rewarding things you could ever do.
Case Study 2
Linda Carlyle, 52, has been fostering children in West Dunbartonshire for 12 years.
From the age of eight, I regularly shared my home and toys with other children after my parents became foster carers. Seeing first-hand how this support helped the many children who came to stay with us inspired me, my brother and late sister-in-law to all foster our own children in need. At the time when I decided to become a foster carer, I wanted to provide emergency care as I felt the need was greater for children in this situation.
I started fostering when my daughter had left home and my son was seven-years-old. The first children I fostered were siblings who stayed with us for two years.
Life changed when through my job in a children's home I looked after a young boy who had come into care with his brother.
I immediately took to him and I could see the potential in this young boy. He was the same age as my own son and I felt I could really relate to him. Through working with him, we built up a special bond, a mutual respect and trust for each other. When I heard he was due to leave the children's home I knew he would find it difficult to settle somewhere new. I decided to leave my job to look after him on a more permanent basis.
I was delighted when he came to live with us as it seemed so natural to bring him home. The boys have grown up together and being the same age, both coped really well. They have both benefited by being great company for each other and see each other as brothers. I have fostered six children and with round the clock support from the Council, I would recommend fostering to anyone.
Fostering is very very rewarding as it's great to see the children flourish under my care. I don't think it's too much to ask, that every child be brought up in a loving home, whether that's at home with their biological parents or with a foster family. Every child needs and deserves a settled loving up-bringing and I am glad I followed in my parents footsteps to help local children. Both my boys have grown and matured into very respectful young adults who I am very proud of.
Case Study 3
Anna Brown from West Dunbartonshire has been living with her foster parents for 7 years.
Some people would say their life starts the day they were born. For me, life started the day I entered foster care.
I went into care when I was nine years old and I remember feeling very frightened and upset. I had no idea who was going to look after me and if I would settle in a strange house.
When I was introduced to my foster carers, I instantly felt their warmth and from the moment I went to live with them, I remember thinking 'this is a happy home, something I've never experienced before'.
It wasn't long before I felt really settled and part of their family. I call my foster carers, Nan and Granddad, as to me they are like my real family in every way. They helped me through primary and secondary school and I left with decent qualification thanks to their support.
Nan and Granddad took time to get to know me, my likes, dislikes and what I was interested in. They enrolled me in a local music theatre group and I am now studying to become a dance teacher at college. Without their support and guidance I would never have achieved the grades to allow me to go on to further education.
Every week I look forward to family night at the local leisure centre where we go swimming, play football and tennis. This is a great opportunity for us to spend time together having fun.
Regardless of what my future holds, I will always be grateful to my Nan and Grandad for their encouragement and support but most of all for their love and belief in me.
