Children standing on beach at sunset

Fostering stories

Read and watch fostering stories

We welcome foster carers from all walks of life, and all backgrounds.

Below, a few of our foster carers talk about their experience of fostering with Barnardo's in a selection of written accounts and videos.

Showing 11 - 20 of 21

  • Christine's story

    Christine, a civil servant who lives in Croydon, started her fostering journey with Barnardo’s shortly after the UK went into lockdown in March 2020. Throughout Christine’s working life she has always enjoyed helping young people and her experience of caring for teenagers has been a positive and fulfilling one.   

  • Michelle and Neil's story

    Michelle and Neil live in West Malling. They have spent the last 22 years fostering children through Barnardo’s. 

  • Emma and Derek's story

    Emma, 42, and her husband Derek, 51, have been short break foster carers for Barnardo’s for the past four years. The couple have two daughters, who are both in their 20s, and live in Tyne and Wear, and have written about their experiences for us.

  • Julie's story

    Julie is a foster carer for siblings, and writes about her experiences. 

  • Shirley and Trevor's story

    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.

  • Bridget's story

    For Bridget Davies, the secret to being a successful foster parent is never losing the sense of fun and wonder of being a child. 

  • Trishun and Matt's story

    Trishun and Matt have been Barnardo’s foster carers since 2020, and have so far fostered five children on short term emergency placements. This is their story.

  • Peter and Liz’s story

    Peter and Liz have been fostering with Barnardo’s Scotland for 17 years. During that time, they have looked after more than 30 children and found the support offered by Barnardo’s invaluable.

  • Carly's story

    Carly talks about her experience as a foster carer after working as a probation officer for 16 years.

  • Jem's story

    Jem, from Reading, describes how rewarding it is to help young people learn skills that many of us take for granted, like managing money, cooking and socialising. Read her story or listen to her in our video.

  • Two adoptive fathers smiling with their two sons

    LGBT Fostering stories 

    A few of our LGBT+ foster carers talk about their experience of fostering with Barnardo's in a selection of written accounts and videos.

  • Young boy on see-saw

    Types of foster care

    There are many different kinds of foster care, specific to each child's situation. Find out more about the many ways you can provide care for a child who needs your help.

  • Young girl smiling at camera in garden

    Enquire about fostering

    The first step towards joining the Barnardo's family is getting in touch. Complete our online form or find details about alternative contact methods here.