Hear from Simon & Charlie about their experience of fostering with The CFT.
We recently spoke with Simon and Charlie about their experience of fostering at The CFT. As a couple, Simon and Charlie have been foster carers with The CFT for around 2 years, and we got the chance to hear about their experiences so far at one of our recent foster carer support meetings in the East Midlands.
Simon and Charlie currently care for twins, one with additional needs. The time and care they provide for the children is exemplary, alongside their dedication to managing birth-family contact which can sometimes be a challenge. Simon is a full-time carer and whilst Charlie works full-time, they very much parent together and work as a team.
Hear what they have to say below!
How did you find the application and approval process with The CFT?
“We found the application and approval process very structured and organised – we were kept informed at all stages of our application. Any questions or concerns we had were listened to and answered without delay. We knew right from our initial contact with the CFT we had chosen the best fostering agency to work with.
Of course, we were apprehensive and worried as to what to expect at our panel approval meeting. But, from the minute we met the panel, our worries passed. The panel team explained how the day would run, which immediately calmed our nerves, and they were all extremely friendly and approachable. We both really enjoyed the afternoon, and said to each other “why did we worry, they were really nice”.”
Why did you decide to foster with The CFT, rather than other IFAs or the local authority?
“We chose the CFT over others, because we made initial enquiries with several fostering agencies but didn’t feel the warmth and encouragement to progress as we did with the CFT.
Our biggest challenge was finding an agency we felt comfortable with and that truly supported the LGBTQ+ community. Our own research and determination to ask questions assured us that The CFT would be a great match for us.”
What are your thoughts on the support and benefits that The CFT provide?
“We have found that as The CFT are a small non-for-profit organisation, with no plans to grow into a large corporate organisation, they have the support network available to truly help. Be it other foster parents in our community, Supervising Social Workers or Senior Managers – at The CFT there is always time and capacity to work with us and to support us on a more personal level.
What really inspires us and further embedded our beliefs as to why we chose The CFT, is whenever we see Marina [The CFT CEO] at support groups, training sessions or at the West Midlands office, she always makes an effort to engage with us, showing a genuine interest in both our’s and the children’s lives.”
What inspired you to become a foster carer?
“As we are a same sex couple, we couldn’t have biological children of our own, but this didn’t stop us wanting to be parents. Therefore, choosing to be foster carers seemed the right option for us, as we had the desire to care for and support children in need of a loving, caring, stable home.”
Do you have any advice for anyone considering becoming a foster carer with The CFT?
“The advice we would give to potential foster carers, would be to carry out lots of research, ask lots of questions and to understand the values and beliefs that The CFT stand for – as these are extremely important to channel, in order to become a successful foster carer.”
