Could you be a foster carer?

As you read this, thousands of vulnerable children are in desperate need of a loving home

- ANNA MATHESON

Every child deserves the chance to grow up in a loving household. And when immediate family can’t provide that care, whether it be due to bereavement or safety issues, a legion of dedicated foster parents are waiting to step in to provide love and security.

Right now in the UK, 65,000 children are being fostered by amazing carers who make sure they get the bright future they deserve. But even so, The Fostering Network estimates around 8,600 new foster carers from different backgrounds will be needed in the next 12 months alone, able to care for children with a range of different needs, including those with disabilities or sibling groups.

Foster Care Fortnight, beginning on 11 May, aims to raise awareness of the brilliant work carers across the country do every day and highlight how caring for a child can change lives. Woman’s Own speaks to Nettie Davies, who has been fostering for nearly 17 years.

‘I had endless love to give’

Nettie Davies, 68, lives with her husband Tony, 70, in Mold. They have two grown-up children. I’ve always loved children, so when my two flew the nest and then I left my job as a bank manager in 2003, I decided I wanted to foster.