23
MARCH 2016
FOSTERING
COMMUNITY
Mum a hundred times over
Eluned Watson
T
As well as bringing up five children of her own, a Telford
woman has spent time caring for more than 100 children in
her role as a foster carer. Whether she’s cared for a child for
a weekend or several years, each youngster has in some way
left an impression on Elaine
here’s rarely a quiet
moment for Elaine, from
Telford. With five grown-up
children, 12 grandchildren
and two disabled foster
children in her life, her day
starts before 6am and doesn’t finish until
everyone’s tucked up safely in bed.
Yet, she says, she still has space for a baby if
one should need a secure and loving home for
anything from a night to many years.
Elaine and husband Alan have been fostering
for 23 years. They admit it’s been a tumultuous
two decades, but a hugely rewarding experience
that they intend to carry on for as long as they
are physically able.
The pair first came into fostering through a
tragic turn of events. Thirty years ago Elaine’s
sister died suddenly, leaving behind her six
children with their stepfather.
It was a difficult time for everyone, and Elaine
and husband Alan took in a couple of their nieces
as their own.
Eventually, the children began to find their
feet again, grew up and moved on; Elaine
realised there was a large gap left in her life.
Having been a mum, a child-minder and run
a playgroup, and coming from a large family
n Elaine has been a foster parent for 23 years,
herself, Elaine thought she could offer other
caring for more than 100 children
children a loving and secure home during tough
times.
She discussed the idea of fostering with Alan
who said he’d go along to the initial meeting
fostered over the years. Elaine currently cares for
to find out more. Alan was soon won over,
a disabled 13-year-old girl and five-year-old boy
“although, two decades on, he always jokes that
with global development delay who is also on the
he’s still practising,” says Elaine.
autistic spectrum. They were just four years old
After checks and training, the pair joined
and two weeks old when they first arrived.
Telford & Wrekin Council’s list of 118 foster
“I wish I had fostered children with disabilities
carers. Elaine says she will
earlier on in my fostering
never forget the first call
career as it is so unbelievably
she received. It was about
rewarding,” she says. “It’s
It’s a bigger
a two-year-old girl and her
hard work and we rarely get
four-month-old brother.
responsibility than time off but our experience
“We were due to go
and determination have
having your own
on holiday on the Saturday
helped get us through it.”
and got the call on the
When their now teenage
children
Wednesday. The pair were
foster child first arrived, they
with us by teatime that day.
were told not to expect too
“I didn’t know how the children would react
much and that she would probably never walk
to me. They were grubby with matted hair and
or talk.
tired; the little boy arrived asleep. When he woke
“She still doesn’t talk but we communicate in
up the social workers had gone and it was just
Makaton sign language,” says Elaine. “She can,
us. We reassured them and bathed them. They
however, walk with the help of splints and has
were so beautiful. You don’t ever forget.”
recently taken up kick boxing!”
The little brother and sister were the first
Their foster son arrived with them at just two
of over 100 children that the pair have now
weeks old and Elaine knew from an early age
that he wasn’t progressing as he should.
“We soon knew there were some delays in his
development and pushed for assessments,” she
remembers.
Elaine knew little about autism but has
done everything in her power to research the
condition. She is a determined woman who
clearly fights as hard for her foster children as any
adoring mother.
The hardest part about fostering, says Elaine,
is having to say goodbye when a child returns
home or is placed with adoptive parents: “It
never gets any easier,” she sighs.
She has fostered short term and long term,
offered respite care and housed children of all
ages for many different reasons. She is still in
touch with many of her foster children and often
supports the birth parents or adoptive parents
during the gradual process of returning home.
She has photos and memories of all the young
lives that have passed through her home.
“It is always lovely to hear from them. We
were sent a video message from one of our now
adopted girls on her 13th birthday. She’d received
a ticket to see Justin Bieber and was over the
moon. It was lovely to see her so happy.”
Elaine receives emotional and financial
support from social services. However, she is
adamant that no-one should foster for financial
reward.
“It’s not something that I would recommend
anyone to do for the money, it has to be because
you want to do something to make a difference.
“Having the right temperament, being willing
to adapt and having support from family, friends
and other fosterers are all important. And having
a sense of humour is vital.
“It’s a bigger responsibility than having your
own children. But for the right person, there are
no greater rewards. Every single child has brought
something special into our lives.”
For more information on fostering
within a 25 mile radius of Telford
visit Telford & Wrekin Council on
www.telford.gov.uk/fostering or
telephone the team on 01952 385385.
Telford & Wrekin Council are holding a
recruitment day at Newport Library on 27
February from 12-2pm.