Voices of Fostering

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 somet...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Fost...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail After losing her husband Keith to cancer, Annette found herself in a home that felt hollow — until she made one phone call that changed everything. In this episode of Voices of Fostering, Helen sits down with Annette, a brand-new foster carer just three months into her journey. Annette shares how grief led her to fostering, what the assessment process was really like, and how welc...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Voices of Fostering , we sit down with Joel - who took the leap into fostering with his husband Jake after 13 years together. Joel shares the honest, emotional, and inspiring story of their journey: from navigating the approval process and welcoming two emergency placements, to taking four children on their first-ever holiday abroad. We talk about: 💛 What led J...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your fostering journey takes an unexpected turn? In this episode of Voices of Fostering , Helen sits down with Scott — a foster carer with a story of an unexpected journey to tell. Scott and his then-wife set out to foster a sibling group, got exactly what they hoped for, and were well on their way — until their marriage broke down. Rather than walk away, both ch...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Voices of Fostering, experienced foster carers Travis and Marisol sit down with Tim Barclay, CEO of National Fostering Group, for an honest conversation about the realities of foster care—from both sides. Discover how carer feedback shapes decisions at the highest level, why innovations like Magic Notes are transforming supervising social worker visits, and what...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Carol and John, a remarkable foster care couple who've dedicated 15 years to transforming young lives—and at 75, they're still going strong. After finding each other through shared dreams of fostering, this dynamic duo has welcomed dozens of children into their home. Carol, a retired nurse, brings empathy and structure, while John offers warmth and heart—the perfect...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Callum, a former police officer who made the leap from frontline policing to becoming a Supervised Family Center Manager at Heath Farm. In this episode of Voices of Fostering, he shares how his police experience—from conflict management to communication skills—translates perfectly into supporting children in care. In this episode, you'll discover: ✅ Why blue light worke...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Casey, a Family Support Worker at the National Fostering Group who's walking the walk—not just talking it. From volunteering in Indian orphanages at 19 to adopting two boys and now supporting foster families daily, Casey brings lived experience to everything she does. In this episode, Casey shares: ✨ Her unexpected journey from world traveler to adoptive parent 💪 How c...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Scott, a foster carer from Kent who has dedicated 20 years to transforming the lives of children with complex needs. Since 2005, Scott and his wife Haley have fostered 13 children, specializing in long-term placements for neurodiverse young people. In this inspiring conversation, Scott shares: ✨ How fostering has evolved from 2005 to 2026, with therapeutic practices replacin...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartwarming episode, we sit down with Erin, who shares her unique perspective on fostering as a sibling. At 20 years old, Erin opens up about what it was like when her mum became a foster carer and how welcoming an 11-year-old foster brother transformed their family dynamic. Erin shares honest insights about the initial nerves, the approval process, and the beautiful mome...

Send us Fan Mail When John heard a radio advert asking for foster carers on his drive home from work, he never imagined how much it would transform his life. After 40 years as a sheet metal worker and with three grown daughters who'd flown the nest, John and his wife Victoria decided to fill their empty home with love, laughter, and children who needed them most. John's story proves that...

Send us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode of Voices of Fostering, we sit down with Victoria, a Senior Creative Care Solutions Practitioner who leads the Bridge to Foster program at National Fostering Group. With over 20 years of social work experience, Victoria is on a mission to help young people transition from residential homes into loving foster families. Victoria breaks down common misconc...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode of Voices of Fostering, Mark shares his incredible 13-year journey as a foster carer—from an unexpected spiritual calling to the everyday moments that make it all worthwhile. Mark's story is a powerful reminder that fostering isn't just about changing children's lives—it transforms foster carers too. From supporting kids through trauma to c...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know that 97-99% of young people who do the Duke of Edinburgh's Award access it through school? But what about children in care who may move schools, change placements, or simply don't feel it's for them in a traditional setting? In this inspiring episode, we sit down with John, who heads up DofE expeditions at National Fostering Group. With 30 years of expe...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when someone who grew up in foster care decides to become a foster parent themselves? In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Louise, a Carer Recruitment Officer at National Fostering Group who knows firsthand the life-changing power of foster care. Louise shares her remarkable story—from entering care as a teenager with her baby daughter to finding the loving fos...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for our latest episode of "Voices of Fostering" as we catch up with Susan, a dedicated foster carer with 18 years of experience. In this candid conversation, Susan shares her journey into fostering, the joys and challenges of short-term and respite care, and the meaningful connections she’s built with children and young people over the years. Discover how Susan’s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of "Voices of Fostering," Helen sits down with Mandy to explore her remarkable journey as a foster carer. Mandy shares how she found her calling later in life, the challenges and joys of fostering as a single carer, and the deep bonds she’s formed with the young people in her care. Discover how Mandy navigated loss, embraced new beginnings, and created a...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a heartfelt episode of "Voices of Fostering" as Helen sits down with Marisol, a dedicated foster mum, to discuss the transformative power of music, the challenges and joys of fostering, and the journey of building a family through love and resilience. In this episode, Marisol shares how music has helped her bond with her foster son, the importance of self-car...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a heartfelt episode of "Voices of Fostering" as we sit down with Natalie, a foster carer with over a decade of experience. Natalie opens up about the unique challenges and profound rewards of fostering, from welcoming sibling groups and teenagers into her home to navigating the ups and downs of placement changes and building lifelong bonds. In this candid con...

Send us Fan Mail Step into the heart of fostering with this inspiring episode of "Voices of Fostering." Meet Ann, a dedicated foster carer with over 20 years of experience and more than 90 children welcomed into her home. In this candid conversation, Ann shares how fostering became a family tradition, the joys and challenges of letting go, and the powerful impact fostering has had on her...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of "Voices of Fostering," we welcome back David and Rachael, a remarkable couple who have opened their hearts and home to eight children—three birth children and five foster children. Join us as they share their journey into fostering, the joys and challenges of blending a large family, and the powerful impact fostering has had on their lives. David and R...