Victoria's Story
Victoria began her fostering journey 5 years ago after watching an item on local news programme, Calendar.
She had always known she wanted to care for people, whether it be for the elderly or for young people, the report on Calendar News explained that Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council was desperate for more in-house foster carers.
“I loved my role as Mum so I decided to take things from there”
Victoria said that she is glad she chose to foster for Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council as “The staff are brilliant and I'm helping children from my local area” She says the application process was easy and it was done quickly and feels the team did everything they could to help.
Victoria has fostered one child, he has stayed with her since he was 11 and is now 17, she is proud of her foster son “beyond measure” and is ‘proud to have the words foster carer after her name’. When Victoria’s foster son arrived at her home, he was shy and sad and she said that from the first moment he walked through her door, all her nerves and doubts vanished “He needed me and I was there for him.” Now after so many years together, Victoria says “He is a capable and independent young man, it's a good feeling to know I took part in making his future.”
She also worked together with her foster son and her social worker to revoke the inaccurate autism diagnosis he had been given, as with her care and support, it became apparent that he didn't have autism at all, the symptoms he had shown were purely due to his environment.
“Having the chance to change a child's life, to change their future - that's powerful!”
The biggest challenges Victoria has come across have been hearing the stories of other looked after children and wanting to be able to look after them all. She says her social worker has been there for her every step of the way and she has never felt alone during her time as a foster carer.
“I want to thank Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council for the pride I feel when I say that I am a foster carer.”