A SELFLESS foster carer from Rugby who has helped transform the fortunes of nearly 40 youngsters says she is proud of them for turning their lives around.
Helen Elward has provided specialist foster care for Barnardo’s for the last eight years – and is encouraging others to do the same during the charity’s Fostering Week 2019.
The 62-year-old provides a temporary home to youths aged 18 and under who are often some of the most vulnerable in the care system, on bail or remand, or affected by childhood sexual exploitation.
Helen was inspired to act having spent a few years of her childhood in care after her parents split up.
She said: “That experience always stayed with me, so when my own children grew up I looked into becoming a foster carer.”
During each placement – which can last from a few days to several months – Helen helps youngsters apply for jobs and college courses, represents them at meetings, and supports them during court appearances.
She said: “Young people sometimes feel society has given up on them, so they give up on themselves.
“It’s amazing so many people think that children only go into care because they’re bad people, but you should never be quick to judge.
“We tell them doing a bad thing doesn’t necessarily make them a bad person. Whatever’s happened, they come here with a clean slate.
“They can talk about their problems if they want to, and we try to build their self-confidence.
“Sometimes they just need someone to believe in them – perhaps they’ve never had that before.”
Many of Helen’s former charges have stayed in touch with her over the years – and some say foster care turned their lives around.
“They’ve gone on to university, established their own businesses and started families,” she said. “They just needed the right support at the right time.
“People think of specialist foster care as challenging, but I just see it as rewarding. I’ve never regretted it.
“It’s amazing to see the difference you can make in such a short space of time. We can help them to completely transform their lives.
“It make you feel very proud of them.”
Helen is telling her story as part of Barnardo’s tenth annual Fostering Week, which launched on Monday (January 21).
The charity is urgently calling for more foster carers, concerned that the number of children being taken into care is rising while the number of foster carers is declining.
Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: “We need more foster carers than ever before.
“We find loving families for vulnerable children in communities across the UK, and we give foster carers the training and support they need.”
Visit www.barnardos.org.uk/fostering or call 0800 0277 280 for more information.
Barnardo’s will host an information session at its offices at Albion Court in Attleborough Road, Nuneaton, on Monday (January 28) from 4-7pm, where visitors can speak to staff and carers. Call 0121 550 5271 for more information.
