Joel - Family, Firsts, and Letting Go

Barrie - 11 Years as a Foster Carer

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2087679/fan_mail/new] What happens when fostering starts by accident — and ends up becoming your life's greatest calling? In this episode of Voices of Fostering, Helen sits down with Barrie, a foster carer of over 11 years, who never planned to foster at all. What began as a chance job in a local authority fostering team quietly changed the course of his life — and the lives of countless children. Barrie shares his journey with remarkable openness: navigating fostering as part of a same-sex couple, coming from a background of personal trauma, the panel experience, and the unforgettable moment a social worker first dropped off a nine-year-old. In this conversation you'll hear about: 🎲 How Barrie accidentally found his way into fostering 🏡 What it really feels like to open your home — and your life — to a child 🤝 The power of feeling held through the assessment process 💍 How he's fostered through marriage, divorce, and everything in between 💛 The small moments that make the biggest difference Whether you're a foster carer, considering fostering, or simply curious about what it takes — this episode is honest, warm, and impossible not to be moved by. If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here [https://www.nationalfosteringgroup.co.uk/]. If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk [podcast@nfa.co.uk] You can also follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nfa_fostering/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/NationalFostering], Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nationalfosteringgroup]and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@NationalFostering]

Suzanne - A First-Year Foster Carer's Story

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2087679/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Voices of Fostering, Helen sits down with Suzanne — a foster carer who has just celebrated her one-year anniversary. Inspired by her own mum's fostering journey, Suzanne left a 16-year career in retail management to pursue what she now calls her "calling." She opens up about: * 🏠 What inspired her to become a foster carer * 📋 The thorough (and sometimes nerve-wracking!) assessment and panel process * 💡 How her perceptions of fostering changed in her first year * ❤️ The reality of caring for children with difficult prior experiences * 🤝 The power of community, training, and support through a fostering agency Whether you're considering fostering or just curious about what life as a foster carer really looks like, Suzanne's honest and heartfelt story will inspire you. If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here [https://www.nationalfosteringgroup.co.uk/]. If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk [podcast@nfa.co.uk] You can also follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nfa_fostering/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/NationalFostering], Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nationalfosteringgroup]and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@NationalFostering]

Daniel - A Single Male's First Steps as a Foster Carer

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2087679/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Voices of Fostering, Helen sits down with Dan — a single male foster carer who was only approved in January of this year. Dan shares his honest and inspiring journey from a long-term career at a supermarket head office, through redundancy, a moment of clarity on a beach in Weston-super-Mare, and ultimately the decision to become a foster carer with National Fostering Group. He opens up about: 💡 Why he decided to foster as a single man in his late 30s 📋 Navigating the thorough Form F assessment process 🧒 His first young person — a teenage boy with autism who lost his nan in January 🤝 The importance of building a strong support network 🔮 What the future might look like for him as a carer Dan's story is proof that there's no single template for a foster carer. Whether you're single or in a couple, male or female, young or older — if you can provide a loving, stable home, fostering could be for you. If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here [https://www.nationalfosteringgroup.co.uk/]. If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk [podcast@nfa.co.uk] You can also follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nfa_fostering/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/NationalFostering], Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nationalfosteringgroup]and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@NationalFostering]

Simon - Paying It Forward, an 11-Year Fostering Journey

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2087679/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Voices of Fostering, Helen sits down with Simon — a foster carer of 11 years — to hear his remarkable story of turning personal experience into a life's purpose. Simon opens up about growing up in a turbulent household and moving in with his aunt and uncle as a child, and how that experience inspired him to give back to children who need the same stability he once received. Alongside his husband, Simon has been fostering for over a decade — and the very first person in their care, a teenager who had been through 11 carers in 10 years, is still with them today. In this episode, Simon shares: 🏠 What drew him and his husband to fostering as a same-sex couple 📋 How he found the assessment process and what to expect at panel 💪 The ups, downs, and resilience required on a long-term fostering journey ⚖️ How they balance fostering with maintaining their own careers 🤝 The importance of community, support groups, and stayover care ❤️ Why he believes fostering is his life's mission — and why he can't imagine stopping Whether you're curious about fostering, just starting your journey, or already part of the fostering community, Simon's story is a powerful reminder that the right home can change a young person's life forever. If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here [https://www.nationalfosteringgroup.co.uk/]. If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk [podcast@nfa.co.uk] You can also follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nfa_fostering/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/NationalFostering], Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nationalfosteringgroup]and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@NationalFostering]

Tammy - How Two Girls Found Their Voice

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2087679/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Voices of Fostering, Helen is joined by Tammy — a foster carer who turned a COVID lockdown lightbulb moment into a life-changing decision for two young sisters. Four years on, Tammy shares the honest, heartwarming story of how she and her husband Matthew went from considering adoption to welcoming two long-term foster children into their home. From the nerves of that very first night, to watching a once-mute nine-year-old blossom into a confident, football-playing teenager working towards her black belt in karate — this episode is a powerful reminder of what's possible when children feel safe, loved, and seen. In this episode, Tammy talks about: 🏡 Growing up with foster carer parents and what it taught her about compassion 🤝 Navigating the matching process and knowing when the fit feels right 🍕 The emotional reality of that first day — carrier bags, pizza, and tears held back 🌱 The incredible transformation she's witnessed in both girls over four years 💼 Why working full time is no barrier to fostering 💻 How one online event with the National Fostering Group started it all 💛 Whether you're curious about fostering or already on your journey, Tammy's story will leave you inspired. If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit our website here [https://www.nationalfosteringgroup.co.uk/]. If you have any questions that you would like to be answered on our next episode email podcast@nfa.co.uk [podcast@nfa.co.uk] You can also follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nfa_fostering/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/NationalFostering], Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/nationalfosteringgroup]and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@NationalFostering]