Andy from North Lanarkshire opens up about his fostering journey and the support he’s received from Foster Care Associates Scotland.
He shares how rewarding it is to help the young people in his care overcome trauma, rebuild trust, and transition into independence.
Fostering was something his wife had encouraged him to explore for years, and the couple finally decided to take the step after researching online and finding the best fit with Foster Care Associates Scotland.
He explains: “Prior to fostering I was a manager on the roads for 35 years. Once I turned 55, my wife took the opportunity to remind me about fostering again, after it was something we had talked about for years.
When asked about the support Andy and his wife have received from Foster Care Associates Scotland, Andy replied: “The social worker that’s allocated to us is very good. She’s great at keeping in touch and following up any problems that we have had, which have been few and far between. The support has been there and in place. I would recommend fostering with Foster Care Associates Scotland”
Fostering Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children
“At present I’ve got two unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in my care. One young person is Vietnamese, and the other is from Afghanistan. I had previously also looked after another boy from Vietnam who we have since helped transition into independence.”
He continues: “Sadly, the two boys from Vietnam had been trafficked so had suffered from significant trauma so we had to work on rebuilding that trust, taking things slowly, setting time aside for them to get them involved with others, and involved in their own communities. There’s quite a big Vietnamese community in Glasgow where they get involved in football tournaments, so it’s great to see we are helping them build a good life here.”
Andy also goes on to explain how his own children are a fantastic source of support. “My own kids would bring board games and sit and play to build up the trust, and after a few weeks we brought English books, and I would sit with them for a couple of hours a day just going through teaching basic English before we managed to get them enrolled in college.”
When asked what qualities Andy believes make a great foster carer, he replied: “You need to have patience, understanding, good communication, and ability to get the children and young people involved with others.”
“The advice I’d give to anyone that’s thinking of fostering is to go for it – the rewards are great.”
If you’ve been thinking about fostering, then speak to one of our friendly advisors today and discover what it’s like to foster with Foster Care Associates Scotland.
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