A MOTHER from Bude is calling for more people in the area to consider a career as a foster carer to help tackle the nationwide shortage.

There is a current shortfall of 600 carers across the South West, and more than 9,000 throughout the UK.

Born and bred in Cornwall, Louise Edmonds, 42, became a foster carer with joined independent fostering agency, Five Rivers, almost four years ago to provide disadvantaged children with a supportive and nurturing home environment, and was moved to foster as a result of her own harrowing childhood experiences.

Now, Louise, her husband Jason and two children, Charlotte, 19, and Tim, 16, share their family home with a teenage foster daughter and have had four foster children over the last four years, as well as additional children they have looked after through respite care.

As part of Foster Care Fortnight, Louise shared her experience on how she made the decision to foster.

Louise said: “I didn’t have a perfect childhood. As the oldest of four children, I took on the role of carer for my younger siblings, protecting them in a house where alcohol abuse and violence was present.

“I remember feeling neglected and unsure of what my future held, and I think that’s the position a lot of children waiting to be fostered can find themselves in. It’s because of this that I knew I wanted to make a difference to children who haven’t had the best start in life.”

When Louise joined Five Rivers in 2013, she had already spent a number of years looking after younger members of her family that had been placed in her care.

Over the course of eight years, Louise saw a dramatic improvement in the happiness and behaviour of these children and was inspired to continue making a difference by becoming a foster parent.

Louise is currently the primary foster carer of Grace, aged 15, who has no contact with her birth parents, and has been with Louise for almost two years, during which time she has established a close bond with Charlotte.

Louise continued: “My daughter is training to be a beauty therapist, so Grace is always asking her for tips and sitting in her bedroom chatting and trying different products. Grace looks up to Charlotte like a big sister, and Charlotte has totally taken her under her wing. Similarly with Tim, they are very close in age and they have a really good relationship.

“I know that some people might wonder why we didn’t wait until our own children had moved out before we took in more teenage children, but it’s our family unit that make us a great home for foster children; I always say that we’re not foster carers, we’re a foster family. Charlotte and Tim are just as responsible as Jason and I for creating a nurturing and supportive environment for the children we foster.

“We do everything together as a family, including sit-down evening meals, walks on the beach and swimming, and Grace is blossoming through being part of a stable and loving family unit.

“Structure is so important to children and before joining us, Grace had no rules or boundaries in place and she would act out as a result of this. Over time, we’ve established boundaries and laid out clear house rules and the difference in her behaviour and general mood is incredible, Grace is happier and performing better than she ever has done at school.

“The biggest thing we’ve learnt since fostering is how important it is to listen and not judge and to keep an open mind in all situations. We’ve really had to learn how to communicate in a variety of different ways, for example, when Grace is having a bad day, she’ll only communicate with a pen and paper. I also think it’s important to never expect too much from them, even with knowledge of their background and previous experiences you will never truly understand what trauma they may have been through, so it’s important to be mindful and considerate at all times.”

Louise is also keen to break down barriers that might be putting off people from fostering older children and encourage more people to consider it as a career option.

She said: “I think the common misconception is that teenagers looking for foster carers are more difficult to look after than babies or young children, but people shouldn’t judge a book by its cover; everyone deserves the chance to have a loving family home. Our biggest achievement as a foster family is that we have created a nurturing and safe environment, which provides a home for children in need. Not only that, but as a family unit it has made us closer and our bond stronger and we’re proud that our children have learnt to care and look after others from such a young age.”

Nicci Willock, director of fostering services at Five Rivers, said: “Louise and the whole Edmonds family are shining examples of foster carers who have done an incredible amount to help look after children across Cornwall. Being a foster carer requires a great amount of patience, empathy and compassion — it’s clear to see that the whole family have all these qualities in abundance.

“There is currently a huge shortage of foster carers across the UK. We are keen to hear from anyone interested in becoming a foster carer, including those considering it for the first time or experienced carers.”

People from all walks of life can become foster carers as long as they are over 21 years of age, including single people, co-habiting couples, same sex couples and people living in rented accommodation. The only requirement is a spare room for each foster child.

Applicants receive extensive training and ongoing support to ensure they are able to look after children placed under their care.

A career in foster care offers many benefits, including competitive rates of pay and flexible working. For more information about fostering, visit www.five-rivers.org/fostering