Living with his auntie, Josh experienced a lack of routine and adult supervision, often missing school and struggling to manage his emotions. But everything began to change when he moved in with Liz and Coleen. Since then, his school has reported a significant improvement in his focus and ability to make and maintain friendships. With support at school to help him understand his losses and manage his feelings, Josh’s progress has been remarkable.
A New Beginning with Liz and Coleen
Liz and Coleen have created a nurturing environment where Josh can thrive. Josh loves living with them, saying, “The best thing about living with Liz and Coleen is I get to go to football every week. When we go camping, I get to take Ruby (our dog) out for walks. It is also good that Maddy lets me use her PlayStation. I want to stay with Liz, Coleen, and Maddy because they look after me and take me to see Auntie Karen.”
Liz and Coleen’s Fostering Journey
Liz and Coleen began their fostering journey as respite carers. “I was still working, and we weren’t sure how fostering would fit around our family commitments,” Liz recalls. “It was a good start for us and helped our daughter Maddy get used to having other children in the house. We quickly realized that we wanted to extend our family. Through discussions with our supervising social worker, we found that long-term fostering was a better fit for us.”
“Maddy was happy as long as the child was younger than her,” Coleen adds. “Josh joined us two years ago, and we’ve become quite the little gang. It’s hard to imagine life without him. Our family feels complete now, and it’s great knowing Maddy has someone other than us. Josh is a little treat. He was very lively when he arrived, but we steadily showed him how things work in our house, and he began to catch on.”
Maddy’s Perspective
Twelve-year-old Maddy shares her experience: “Sometimes it can feel like our family is very busy with meetings, looking after the children, and social workers visiting the house. But you get used to it. My mums have always made sure we had time together. I’m proud knowing my family is helping children be safe and sometimes find a new family.”
“At the sons and daughters group, I get to talk about how it feels. Now that it’s been agreed Josh is staying, it’s a bit different, not so much change. But I still like talking to other people my age who get what it is like.”
A Bright Future
With the support of Liz, Coleen, and Maddy, Josh has found a place where he belongs and can flourish. This family’s journey highlights the incredible impact fostering can have, not just on the children in care but on the families who welcome them with open hearts
