The perfect opportunity to grow your family this January

FOR many families, the start of a new year can present an opportunity to take on a new challenge.

Now as part of its latest campaign to fill the urgent need for foster families, Staffordshire County Council is asking people to consider fostering as the next step in their lives.

For one Staffordshire couple, the decision to become a foster family proved to be one of the best plans they had ever made.

Nicola Clay and husband Jonathan, along with their two grown-up daughters, embarked on their fostering journey in 2019. The former headteacher and operations manager have already fostered a newborn baby, who stayed with them for 16 months, and are now looking forward to providing a loving home to other children.

Nicola said: “We decided to foster as we wanted a change of career and a new challenge to work on together. After more than 30 years in education, I still wanted to support children in some way if I could.

“Our own children are grown up and in higher education, which means we now have the time and the space to make a difference to the lives of other children.

“Our girls attended an initial fostering information evening along with us and came home saying, ‘mum we’ve got to do this’.

“Having a foster child to look after has been both the most rewarding and, at times, the most difficult thing we have done. Seeing the baby we cared for and with whom we are still in regular contact grow and develop so happily, made the challenges all the more worthwhile.

People interested in becoming a foster carer with Staffordshire County Council can find out more at the fostering information events being held in January, by visiting www.fosterforstaffordshire.co.uk or by calling 0800 169 2061.