Information sessions about fostering with Nottinghamshire County Council are being held in February.

Among the county’s foster parents is Lesley, 57, of Mansfield, who has fostered with the council for 24 years.

Until eight years ago she was a single foster carer of mainly teenagers, but now fosters with her husband, Keith.

They currently look after a young person over the age of 18, who is remaining with the couple beyond his ‘foster placement’, and a 17-year-old boy.

“I never had any children of my own and I must admit fostering at first seemed like an alien experience, but I quickly grew to love it,” says Lesley.

“I wanted to bring children into my home and make sure they felt like part of the family, not just visitors.”
One of her former foster children, Polly, now 33, remembers vividly her first visit to Lesley’s home.

“She made me feel so at ease and welcome, and asked me very quickly how I’d like my bedroom doing up before my next visit,” said Polly, who now lives with her partner, her partner’s daughter, and her own two daughters in Hucknall.

“Lesley and I went shopping for bedding and other bits for my room and we clicked straight away. I felt comfortable and a sense of belonging from day one.”

Lesley openly admits that she sees Polly as the daughter she never had.

“We just slotted into each other lives and we have been there for each other at important times,” Lesley said.

Polly also holds precious memories of Lesley helping her move into her first flat when she moved out aged 19.

During the years she fostered Polly, Lesley maintained good relations with Polly’s birth parents.

Lesley explained: “I was Polly’s foster carer and she lived with me but it was important that she knew where she came from and had a sense of family and belonging.”

Lesley has fostered more than 50 young people and tries to keep in regular touch with all of them.

She is supporting the council’s fostering campaign and urges anyone who has been thinking about fostering to take a closer look.

There is a drop-in session on Thursday, 14th February, from 3pm–5pm at Mansfield Woodhouse Library.
To find out more about fostering, go to www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/fostering