Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FOSTERING SOME HOPE
Couple tell of joy in helping kids achieve milestones
A COUPLE have opened up about how fostering has changed their life in a bid to encourage others to sign up to the vital service.
Adrian and Heather Cochranewatson have been doing the vital work with Barnardo’s NI for five years.
During that time the Co Antrim couple have fostered six children, including emergency placements, short breaks and long-term fostering.
It was Adrian, who himself grew up in an extended family, who first suggested they foster.
After a Barnardo’s advert caught their eye five years ago the couple made an appointment to attend an information evening and have not looked back since.
Adrian explained: “Life has been very kind to us and our children and we thought we could give another child a home.
“We grew up with Barnardo’s, raising money through the charity’s Christmas tree at school and it was a name we associated with children and warmth.”
The couple have three children of their own, two girls in their 20s and a teenage son and are currently fostering a 15-year-old girl and an 18-month-old baby.
Adrian, a former Ulster Unionist MLA, said: “It can be challenging but seeing children achieve milestones like taking their first steps, or enjoying their first Christmas, or going on a plane for the first time, or when they get older and getting their first part-time job and first pay.
“Helping them achieve those things and getting to share and celebrate i s fantastic.” The couple spoke out as Barnardo’s issued an appeal for foster carers in Northern Ireland.
There are more than two thousand children living with foster families in Northern Ireland and around 200 extra carers are urgently needed.
Heather said the backing of the charity and their own children has been a huge help.
She added: “The team at
HEAD OF BARNARDO’S NI
Barnardo’s know us so well and if our key worker isn’t there everyone else knows us and the children
“Our own children just dote on them [the foster kids] and our own families, aunts, uncles and grandparents are all supportive as well.
“They treat all the children the same and recently everyone came round to see the baby walking, it was lovely.”
Barnardo’s NI director Lynda Wilson said: “We ensure our families have all they need to feel confident to help transform a young life.”
For more information call Barnardo’s on 028 9065 2288 or visit www.barnardos.org.uk/fostering.