A trip to her local shopping centre proved life changing for Shirley Blair and her husband Trevor after she picked up a Barnardo’s information leaflet about fostering.
It also changed the lives of the four children they have gone on to foster during the last 13 years, giving those youngsters chance to grow up on the family farm, surrounded by animals and with the stability that was missing from their early lives.
Shirley and Trevor’s own three children had reached adulthood when they decided that fostering could be for them. They had a large house with room to spare and wanted to give children in care the opportunity to experience family life.
Now the County Antrim couple are backing a Barnardo’s campaign to encourage more people to consider fostering siblings, as for the last four years they have cared for a brother and sister aged 11 and nine and believe both children have really benefited from being kept together.
Trevor said: “When they first arrived they didn’t even know how to play but our grandchildren are at the house a lot and really helped with that.”
The animals on the couple’s smallholding also play their part and the children, who came from the city, now have their own chickens and ducks to feed. The boy, in particular, has taken to country life, building perches and walkways for the birds, and both like helping Shirley, a former garden nursery worker, in her own garden.
Shirley, 61, said: “When they arrived they were scared of the dark and didn’t want to go out. Now we can’t keep them in. We have a swing and trampoline and they love helping us with the sheep and the garden, they are even picking up the Latin names for the plants.”
The couple hope the children are with them for the long term. They have settled well into the local community and into school.
The Blairs have previously fostered children for lengthy periods and one who is now 25 still returns for visits, considering the farm his second home.
Trevor, 63, a former quarry worker, said: “In the early days we discussed the possibility of fostering with our own children and they were happy for us to do it."
“Over the years we have treated the children just like our own family. It has been good to see them get a new lease of life and grow stronger. We have loved and cared for them like our own, it’s been a natural thing. We enjoy their company and it’s good when you get a smile. To see them happy and able to trust is a wonderful thing.”