At Eastern Fostering Services, we have a fantastic community of foster carers. They are warm and friendly. Moreover, they are devoted to the children in their care.
You may be wondering what it is like to foster with Eastern Fostering Services. So we asked our carers and here’s what they said.
Theresa and Paul
Having been foster carers for 9 years with another agency, we transferred to Eastern Fostering Services in 2019. The whole process was an inclusive and empowering experience. Since transferring, the support we have received is better than we could have hoped. There is always a friendly voice at the end of the line if ever they are needed. We wish we had become a part of the Eastern Fostering Services family years ago.
Michelle and Robert
We are Michelle and Robert Stebbings. We have been foster carers for over 8 years.
We love seeing the children happy and taking them on adventures with us.
We also get to have time off to recharge ourselves, with support from family which is great and EFS approve of this arrangement.
The children also get to go out with support workers within the EFS team.
The carer support is great, and we never hesitate to call if we ever need anything.
Sharon and Rob
Hello, I’m Sharon! For the past 11 years, my husband Rob and I have had the
incredible opportunity to foster a variety of young people. We’ve welcomed
teenagers, parent and child pairs, and sibling groups into our home, each with their own unique stories and needs. Some of these needs can be quite complex, but our journey has been enriched by the comprehensive training and unwavering support provided by EFS. Knowing that help is just a call away, 24/7, offers us great reassurance and a comforting peace of mind.
Fostering is truly one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives. We particularly embrace a therapeutic approach, creating an environment where the children can thrive. It’s amazing to witness their growth in confidence and joy as they discover that the world is filled with fun and possibilities. Each smile and breakthrough we witness reminds us why we chose this path, making every challenge worth it.
Nigel and Leslie
Nigel’s Parents fostered and Nigel’s foster brother came to them from a Children’s Home at 4 years old. He is now 64 and still part of the family. We began our own fostering journey 35 years ago. Our birth children are now 37, 35 and 30. For 15 years we fostered with the Local Authority. We had short term and emergency placements, from one day to 6 years in duration! The age ranged from birth to mainly younger than our eldest child, so the age kept going up. We had 3 children with disabilities that we Shared the Care with their families. One came at 18 months and was profoundly deaf. This was when we furthered our signing skills which we still use today. We were privileged to go to her wedding a few years ago. We moved to a Fostering Agency and began having children long term. We had 2 brothers for 9 and 11 years. We successfully moved the younger into supported living at the age of 18.
He keeps in touch and is proud to perform with the Mushroom Theatre, a group inclusive of those with special needs, and we go and watch! The other, having been to an EBD School moved on from us with a job in a London Store wearing top hat and tails and living in a shared house with key workers present. When that Agency closed we came to EFS and have mainly fostered children with complex needs, and offer respite to our fellow Foster Carers. We feel well supported by our Supervising Social Worker and the team. We attend regular support groups where we discuss our challenges and celebrate our achievements. Training is ongoing and there is always something new and interesting to learn. We have fun with the children at the events organised, a Summer Camp at Essex Outdoors, parties, sporting events, beach trips, nature activities, to name but a few. Over the years we have had to manage challenging behaviour but through our training we know that this is often due to unresolved issues and trauma experienced. It is vital to value each child for who they are and where they are at. Giving firm boundaries helps to provide a safe, secure environment for the children to thrive. It is rewarding seeing their smiles and watching their progress. To us, Fostering is a way of life. It is a way of giving children a chance to experience a loving caring home. They may have been dealt a harsh card, but we can help them navigate and manage their feelings as best they can. We need to advocate and push forward on their behalf, enabling them to be the best they can be. Why not join the team?
Aime and Danny
We are Danny and Aime, and we’ve been fostering with Eastern Fostering Services for 5 months. Fostering has been one of the most rewarding and life changing experiences we’ve shared as a family. Supporting children and giving them a safe, loving environment to grow and thrive has brought joy and purpose to our everyday lives.
One of our proudest moments was witnessing the progress and confidence our foster children have gained through simple but meaningful milestones, whether that’s seeing them develop strong bonds with us or achieving personal growth at school.
It’s those moments, no matter how small, that remind us why we do this. The support we’ve received from the team at Eastern Fostering Services has been invaluable. From the training provided to the warmth and encouragement of our social workers, we’ve always felt supported and well equipped to handle both the challenges and rewards of fostering.
What is it like for the children?
Read some thoughts from our foster children on our testimonials page today!
