“Something I wish I’d known before I started fostering…”

Her story is one many people thinking about fostering will recognise: curiosity, nerves, a big first step and a journey that changed lives, including her own.

Jeanette first started thinking about fostering after seeing a little girl who had just gone into care, walking to school with her new foster carer. “She had this huge smile on her face,” Jeanette remembers. “It really stuck with me – knowing she was safe, settled and happy.” Later, she met two more children who had been fostered. Their confidence and calmness made a lasting impression. “Seeing the difference fostering made to them really motivated me to get started,” she says.

Making the first call to Barnardo’s felt daunting, but it proved to be a turning point.

“The woman I spoke to had such a reassuring voice. That phone call gave me the confidence to keep going.”

Fostering isn’t quick, simple or something you do alone – and Jeanette says that honesty and support are key.

“It makes you reflect on your own upbringing,” she explains. “There were moments when we wondered if we could really do this, but Barnardo’s guided us every step of the way.”

Through preparation training, assessment sessions and regular contact with a dedicated fostering social worker, Jeanette found a community that listened without judgement and supported without hesitation.

“Although it was emotional and sometimes overwhelming, our social worker answered every question. They reminded us why it mattered – and that it would be worth it.”

Jeanette believes this support is what makes fostering with Barnardo’s different.

“It doesn’t matter what background you come from,” she says. “You’ll get the skills and training you need to support children in your care.”

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Jeanette’s experience as a foster carer is closely tied to the young people she’s cared for, including Romarnie, who came into her care after moving between placements.

“I was shy at first because I’d moved around a lot,” Romarnie says. “I was anxious meeting new people – but Jeanette was lovely.”

Now 19, he still remembers their first outing together.

“It was winter and we went up to the lake. I picked up a big piece of ice and slammed it on the ground,” he laughs. “Jeanette just stood there and let me be. She didn’t rush me. She gave me space to adjust.”

That patience and understanding made a lasting impact.

“She listened when I told her how nervous I was and that I wasn’t sure if I’d move again. She made it feel like home and invited me into the family. That warmth and acceptance meant everything.”

For Romarnie, fostering wasn’t about perfection, it was about consistency, compassion and being given time to trust.

“Fostering is a two-way street,” he says. “It teaches empathy and trust. It teaches how to care, how to love, how to be part of a family.”

Now an independent young adult, Romarnie is thriving at university - something he once struggled to imagine. Looking back on his journey, he offers Jeanette a simple message

Today, Romarnie hopes to become a foster carer himself: “Because I’ve lived through it, I feel I could really pass my experience on” he says. 

For Jeanette, seeing him flourish has been one of her greatest rewards. “It’s those moments” she says, “when you see a young person start to believe in themselves.” 

Jeanette never looked back after that first reassuring phone call. If her story has made you wonder whether fostering could be right for you, you may be more ready than you think. 

By fostering with Barnardo’s, you’ll part of a children’s charity that has been supporting children for over 150 years. You’ll have dedicated and tailored support every step of the way, a competitive allowance, and a community of like-minded carers.