Foster care through the eyes of 17 year old Sheryl
Foster with North East partner Together for Children Sunderland recently hosted its annual Foster Carer Celebration Event, a special occasion for our community that's dedicated to honouring the incredible commitment and compassion of foster carers.
This event is just one example of the many ways our partners across the region support foster families. As part of our comprehensive support package, all partners offer a range of activities and initiatives designed to strengthen relationships and build community. These include celebration events, days out, clubs for fostered children, coffee mornings, buddy programmes, and innovative models like the Mockingbird.
A standout moment at the Sunderland event was an emotional and inspiring speech by 17 year old Sheryl, a young person with lived experience of fostering. Her powerful words moved many to tears and earned a much desrved standing ovation. We're incredibly grateful to Sheryl for also sharing her story with us.
Sheryl and her family are also featured in our new campaign, 'The Power of Relationships', which highlights the life-changing impact of strong, supportive connections in foster care.
Sheryl's speech about her experiences as a teen in foster carer
Hi everyone! My name's Sheryl, and some of you recognise me from the Foster Carers North East video.
My mam and dad, they don't treat caring for me and my siblings as just a job. They don't make us feel different to other children or disposable in any way. In fact, this might sound weird, but sometimes I even forget that I am fostered. That's how much they have accepted us as their children and I will never not appreciate that.
And this constant appreciation makes it seem almost surreal to me that I didn't even know what foster care was until I was physically placed into it. Since it's such a large part of my life now, I can't even imagine not knowing what it is, or not having any kind of connection to it.
Without foster care, my life would have taken a vastly different path, and I am so happy I'll never know what that path would have looked like. Deep down, I know that I am extremely lucky to be where I am today, settled with a good relationship with my parents.
Being a foster child is a large part of my identity, and though the media may look down on those who are care-experienced, it will always be an overwhelmingly positive part of who I am. It shows that I am resilient, that I will work hard in the face of struggle to get what I want. It shows that I have aspirations to be better than my past. That I will not let labels society may place on me dictate where I end up in life.
On the other hand, not every young person is as lucky as me and my siblings. Some children may remain in unsafe homes for a long time, or even all of their childhood, before local authorities are ever aware there is an issue.
Some may bounce from home to home, never forming a meaningful relationship with others, because their trauma makes it difficult for them to be vulnerable with new parental figures. It is unfortunate, but not every child can flourish after being denied the opportunity to grow by some of the most trusted people in their lives.
Get a fostering information guide
However, every single child deserves the chance to. Every child should experience peace in their own home. Every child should have someone who loves them.
And this is why it is so amazing what all of you do on the day-to-day. You take these children in, these children who may have broken souls, or battered hearts - and you try your best to make them feel whole again.
As foster carers, you are enabling your children to flourish by giving them a safe environment that they may have never had the chance to experience before. And you may feel like, as foster carers, that it can sometimes be a thankless job.
And if you do feel like that, if you do believe that no one appreciates the work you put into forming healing relationships with troubled children, I'm here to contest that. Today, as a voice for all the foster children going through similar situations to me, I'm here to tell you this...thank you!
Find out more
If you are curious about fostering, find out more by calling Foster with North East on 0800 917 777 or enquire online now, you make no commitment by getting in touch.
Share this page
