Local foster mum urges people to come forward to foster

MIDLANDS / AGILITYPR.NEWS / April 24, 2024 / “For me it’s seeing them happy, progressing, learning new things, having new experiences, and the opportunities to fulfil their dreams.”

Mandy Lees started her fostering journey five years ago with another foster care provider. During these five years, she’s had two long term foster children and ten who stayed for respite.

Last year, Mandy transferred from the council to Fosterplus. She found Fosterplus on a paddle boarding holiday in Long Eaton and decided to enquire about the services they offered. Mandy said: “The team at Fosterplus were very helpful and made the move and transition quite smooth. There was a fair bit of paperwork and it was a long process, but I understood that it was important and had support through it all.”

Mandy’s fostering journey

Mandy used to run a Brownie group when she met a foster parent who took care of a child with special needs. As she spoke to her, Mandy was inspired to take up fostering too. 

Mandy is a single foster parent and has raised two children of her own who are now all grown up. One of her children is autistic and has a lot of additional needs which was another reason why fostering felt like the right choice for Mandy. She said: “I thought I could understand how to care for someone with additional needs, explain things to them in a different way and help them work through the trauma they’ve faced and get them to a happy place.”

Making a difference through foster care

Mandy has provided respite care to two children from very different and difficult backgrounds but she has always strived to make their time with and after being with her better and happier. While doing so, Mandy was able to facilitate a stable relationship between a pair of siblings who were both in care but placed in different homes which made her foster child incredibly happy.

Mandy’s best fostering moment has been watching her foster children grow. She said: “For me it’s seeing them happy, progressing, learning new things, having new experiences, and the opportunities to fulfil their dreams.”

Why Fosterplus?

While moving from another foster care provider to Fosterplus, Mandy was caring for a foster child and wasn’t ready to leave without her. The Fosterplus team helped her navigate that and ensured that both, Mandy and the child, were supported throughout the process.

One of the main reasons why Mandy chose Fosterplus was how easily accessible their services are. She said: “I chose Fosterplus because they have an actual office and aren’t just online; if I ever need something and I can’t get in touch with someone, I know I can always get support at their office.”

Advice for other foster parents

Being a foster parent is a very rewarding job but it comes with its challenges as Mandy said: “You may feel unprepared or unsure of yourself, but during such times you have to revert back to your training, talk to your social worker, and get the support you need.”

It’s estimated that more than 100,000 children will be in care in the UK by 2025. There is a huge shortage of foster parents in the south of England and throughout the rest of the UK. 

If you would like more information about becoming a foster parent, visit https://www.fosterplus.co.uk/offices/long-eaton/ or call 0800 369 8512.