Rachel and Damian's fostering story
Rachel, 42, and her husband Damian, 45, began fostering a newborn baby in 2023. They invited us into their home to tell us why they decided to foster, and how it's had such a huge impact on family life.
Watch our short fostering video, where Rachel and Damian talk about their fostering experience
Rachel said: "Years ago, I worked as a social work assistant in the children with disabilities team and one of my roles was to take foster children for days out and activities. I'd always worked with children, but this job made me realise that I'd really like to be a foster carer some day.
"We wanted to wait until the time was right, we needed a spare room, and our own children to be old enough to understand why we were fostering and be on board with the process. When my youngest started high school, it seemed like perfect timing."
Damian added: "I also wanted to foster for a very long time, and we felt now was the right time in our lives to give it a try. I can honestly say, it's the best thing we've ever done!"
Rachel and Damian's first foster child was a newborn baby, and the child still lives with them now. Rachel said: "He was brought to us at just four days old, and he was so small. My youngest had just turned 12 and suddenly I had a newborn, so I had a lot of questions. It was a lot to get used to at first and hard work, but then it all started coming back to me and I just knew what to do.
"I was given so much support and my social worker was great, but I was also buddied up with another local foster carer, which was really helpful. I've been on lots of training courses, mostly online, which has been beneficial, and I've learnt new skills."
With two school-aged children of her own, we asked Rachel how fostering fits around her busy family life. She said: "Babies just slot into your life. I don't work so he is at home with me all the time, but he will come on the school run, and we've enjoyed such lovely experiences together. We go to rhyme time at the library, swimming, and for walks around the park, and we've been on lots of family holidays to the Isle of Wight."
Our council's payment and benefits package for new and existing foster carer equates to an annual salary up to £72,000, and offers reductions in council tax, bills and a family Platinum Merlin pass.
Rachel said: "The new offer for foster carers is brilliant. Although I don't see this as a job, at the end of the day we've now got an extra mouth to feed, and babies need a lot of things like nappies and formula. It all adds up.
"Before we fostered, if the house was cold in the winter, then we'd just put another jumper on, but you can't do that with a little newborn baby. So, the winter fuel allowance and money off bills have been so useful.
"I treat this child as if he were my own, and the payments have allowed me to buy a nice pushchair and car seat for him. We also love the Merlin pass, as it allows us to do so much more together with family days out to new places."
A newborn baby may be placed in the council's care for various reasons, such as parental illness, substance abuse, physical abuse, or neglect.
Social workers will endeavour to support the birth parent to address their issues with the aim of unifying the family, but there may be situations where this may not be safe or possible.
The council will then consider the best option to give the child the most stable, loving family environment, whether in the care of immediate or extended family members, or through foster care or long-term adoption.
We asked Rachel how she thinks it will feel when the baby's fostering journey comes to an end. She said: "I am a strong person and not often emotional, but I can't imagine how hard it will be when it's time for him to move on. I know we've given him the very best start we could ever give him, and we hope he has a lovely life.
I've made photo books and memory boxes for him so he can always remember us, he has brought so much joy to our lives. But when the time does come, then there will be another child who needs us."
Rachel concluded: "Fostering is the best thing we've ever done as a family. It has made us better people, and we're a closer family because of it. There are so many children out there who need a loving home."
Damian says he has recommended fostering to all his friends: "I would always recommend fostering to anyone and I'd say if you are thinking about it, then explore the options. It is extremely rewarding."
Could you be a foster carer like Rachel and Damian?