As part of Foster Care Fortnight 2026 and this year’s theme, “This is Fostering”, we are continuing to share stories that reflect the care, patience and commitment shown by foster carers across our community.
Diane and Andrew were nominated for the support they have given to a teenage young person in their care over the last two years. Their story is one of calm, consistent care during a time when the young person needed safety, understanding and people who would continue to show up for her.
The young person had experienced significant difficulties before coming into their care, and the past year has brought additional challenges. Throughout this, Diane and Andrew have continued to provide a predictable, warm and secure home.
“The change in the young person has been incredible in terms of observing how safe she feels living with carers and their son. The young person is very much ‘at home’ with the predictable, warm, and secure environment she is afforded.”
For children and young people who have experienced trauma, feeling safe does not always happen quickly. It can take time, patience and repeated reassurance. Diane has offered this through her everyday care, giving her time, support and attention even when things have been difficult.
“Diane has given her time endlessly to the young person, needed to manage challenging behaviour, yet takes this in her stride, is calm, balanced, and see’s the next day as a ‘new day.’”
This ability to begin again each day is an important part of Diane’s approach. Rather than focusing only on behaviour, she thinks carefully about what may be sitting underneath it. She is described as a reflective and creative carer, able to adapt her support and look for different ways to understand what the young person may be feeling.
“Diane has ensured to provide the young person with her time, support, care and always able to look through behaviour to understand what is likely to be going on for them.”
Over the past year, Diane has also travelled many miles each week to take the young person to therapy. She has supported her with encouragement, confidence and safety, helping her reach the point where she felt able to sit with the therapist on her own.
This kind of progress can be easy to miss from the outside, but it represents something significant. It shows trust building over time, and the difference that steady support can make when a young person is given space to feel safe.
Diane and Andrew have also worked hard to balance the needs of both young people in their home. Their birth son, also a teenager, has shown great kindness and thoughtfulness, even during times when Diane has needed to give more of her time to the young person in their care.
“It has not always been easy for the carers birth son, and there has been times when Diane has needed to give more of her time to the young person. Diane and Andrew have needed to work hard to balance their time to both young people.”
Fostering often involves the whole household. In Diane and Andrew’s home, that care, patience and understanding has helped create a place where the young person feels settled and accepted.
Diane does not see what she does as anything unusual. But her nomination makes clear that the time, thought and kindness she gives have made a real difference.
“Diane does not see anything which she does for young people as ‘anything out of the norm’ is such a kind, caring and thoughtful person who always goes that extra mile.”
For Diane and Andrew, motivation comes from seeing the young person grow, develop and recognise the changes in herself. Their story is a reminder that fostering is not always about instant progress or easy moments. Sometimes it is about staying calm, remaining consistent and continuing to care through uncertainty.
Thinking about fostering?
If stories like this inspire you, and you’d like to learn more about becoming a foster carer, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch with our team via our enquiry form: Contact The CFT About Fostering
