What do you wish more people understood about fostering?

That you don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be present.

So many people hold back because they think fostering is for someone else, someone with a bigger house, a different background, a particular set of credentials. But the children in care don’t need perfection. They need warmth. They need consistency. They need someone who will show up, every single day and let them know they matter.

Yes, fostering is challenging, there are days that test you. But there are also moments of extraordinary joy, the first smile that is truly relaxed, the milestone reached, the child who finally feels safe. Those moments are priceless. They are why we do this.

I wish people knew that with Bexley, you are never doing it alone. There is a whole team behind you, a community around you and training that genuinely prepares you.

The support is not a promise on a leaflet. It is real. It shows up when you need it most.

How has Bexley’s training prepared you for the realities of fostering?

Bexley’s training doesn’t just prepare you; it transforms you. I cannot speak highly enough of the KEEP training and the Skills to Foster programme. I recommend them wholeheartedly, without reservation, to every foster carer, whether you are brand new or have years of experience behind you.

KEEP in particular has completely changed how I parent and how I care. You are gently but powerfully challenged to grow. You sit in a room with other carers, sharing real experiences, learning without judgement, supporting each other in a space that feels genuinely safe.

It is the kind of training that stays with you. It doesn’t just make you a better foster carer; it makes you a better person.

What would you say to someone considering fostering? 

I know that might sound simple, but I mean it with everything I have. You don’t fully know what you are capable of until you step forward. On the other side of that decision is a journey that will stretch you, grow you and ultimately show you what you are truly made of.

In Bexley, we recognise the incredible commitment kinship carers make. Many step forward unexpectedly, during times of crisis, driven by love and a desire to keep children close. Bexley is part of the Department for Education’s Kinship Zones pilot, where we are investing additional resource into helping children remain within their family networks and providing financial assistance to families who are caring for children who cannot be cared for by their parents.

If you are caring for a child who cannot live with their parents, you may be entitled to additional support.

Find out more information about the Kinship Zones pilot or call us on 020 345 5055.