You can read the transcript of the video below.
We wanted to provide a safe, secure home for children that we thought possibly might be in need. I enjoy most about fostering is it’s a family environment and not just with the children, the larger community with the other foster carers that we’ve become a little tight community. And it’s just lovely to have that friendship with everybody supporting each other is a great network.
I think, for me the most rewarding memories, probably when we’ve got the children and they’re going to school, and they’ve got maybe a math test or a spelling test coming up. And you’re teaching, you’re helping them learn, you’re teaching with them. And when they come back from school, and they start sharing, “I got 10 out of 10 for my spelling, I got 10 out of 10.” And that, for me, I think for both of us, it’s like, that’s really rewarding because the children are happy, and you’re really happy as well.
I think the benefits for us for fostering is to know that we can hopefully make a difference in the child’s life. And we are constantly learning, adapting, adjusting. And we know never to assume anything, when that child comes into our house, he may not be there because his mum and dad have problems with drink or drugs. He may there be there because his mum’s passed away and there wasn’t a dad on the scene. So for us, it’s learning all the time to listen, listen to what they’re telling us, listen to what’s going on, and let them know that they will be heard and will be listened to when you do talk to us, that we will sit there and listen to them.
We’ve learned so much like going back to school has been a real eye opener for us and learning about Microsoft Teams and, oh my goodness, everything that goes with them. I now know my times tables. I don’t think I ever managed to learn when I was at school. So yes, it’s absolutely incredible. It’s a journey, it’s huge.
The benefit, hopefully for the child, is that they come to a safe house. It’s quite a big house so they they can play about in here, they can play on my table football, and there’s a big garden. So it’s a nice relaxing atmosphere for them. So I think that’s probably a great benefit for them. There’s no issues and no worries for them, hopefully, while they’re here.
We have excellent support through our supervising social worker. But the whole of the social team are a team and he will help you and we have out of hours if we need them. Also, the training I think is excellent, it’s second to none. We have opportunities to learn everything that we need to learn. It’s just putting the time in yourself, obviously at the moment a lot of it is virtual, but there are classroom training as well if you wish to do the classroom training, which I find extremely beneficial.
Kiran and Wendy Magain-Shah is a foster carer with Slough Children First.
If Kiran and Wendy has inspired you to find out more about fostering then please complete the online enquiry form and one of our advisors will be in touch to talk it through with you. There’s no commitment, but it could be the start of an exciting new journey.
