'I call them my borrowed children': Glitzy event shines spotlight on inspirational foster carers across city

Across the city, there are more than 200 foster families caring for children and young people who are unable to live full-time with their birth parents.

To celebrate the work of foster carers, Portsmouth City Council hosted its second Foscars event to shine a well-deserved light on carers who have opened their homes and hearts to help create a future for young people.

Held at The Queens Hotel in Southsea, the event brought the fostering community together for an evening of music, food, drinks and a raffle.

Since 2021, there has been a rapid decline in the number of foster carers, despite demand for foster homes being greater than ever, sparking national recruitment drives and a new multi-million-pound government funding package.

To support the cause, The News launched its campaign, ‘Fostering a Better Future’, on Tuesday, August 11, to help inform people about what fostering a child entails and the process involved, with the aim of increasing the number of foster carers enrolling.

Dianna Gash, who attended the event, began her "amazing" fostering journey two decades ago after previously working with homeless and vulnerable people.

She told The News: "My life is full, it's joyous and it's great fostering - I love it. It's all about our young people, who have made such big achievements in their lives. Some have gone on to university or returned to school when they weren't attending before.

"The biggest challenge is that they don't want to be in foster care, but I'm a good second best and I call them my borrowed children. One of the biggest challenges is facilitating contact. I think it's really important because family are still their family and, if we can help repair some of those relationships, it's really good. But it is a challenge.

"The fostering team is amazing. Although I don't call them up every day, I always know they're there if I need them and they are fantastic. The training we get - everything we receive - is just great."

Portsmouth City Council's dedicated fostering service, Foster Portsmouth, recruits, trains and supports carers across the local area to ensure children live in safe and welcoming homes.

Steven Carter, who fosters with his wife, Debbie, described the city council's fostering team as "excellent", noting the level of support available has helped them overcome challenges over the years.

He said: "My wife inspired me to become a foster carer because she was in care herself for a little while. It's changed my life completely, looking after different children with different needs, helping them through different stages of life, supporting them into school and helping them transition into other ways of life."

Also at the event was Rachel Day, who discussed the importance of addressing gaps in the foster care community, with a shortage of carers and resources having a noticeable impact on children and young people across the area.

She continued: "It's had its challenging moments but the most positive impact it's had is watching my birth children be part of our fostering journey. They've learnt some really lovely lessons along the way - they've learnt to be kind, non-judgemental and to really give people a chance when their circumstances aren't perhaps the same as theirs. It's been really rewarding to watch my birth children become part of our foster family.

"Over the years, I think the biggest challenge has been the lack of resources because there have been so many cuts across the city, and that has really impacted children and young people. Foster carers are becoming education supporters, doctors and therapists, so it's about trying to fill those gaps that used to be so well supported in the local community."

Suited and booted were husband and wife Claire and Lee Cooper, who are foster parents to a young boy with special educational needs who has been living with them since the age of six. Lee said being a foster carer has "given us a completely different outlook on life".

He explained: "We didn't realise there was so much involved in fostering until you're actually sitting there doing it yourself, and it does change your life. It really does change it for the better."

To be an eligible foster carer you:

• Must be at least 21 years old
• Have a legal right to work or live in the UK
• Possess a spare bedroom
• Pass a background check
• Live in the UK

For more information about fostering in Portsmouth, call 0300 131 2797 or email [email protected].

To get involved in fostering in Hampshire, call 0300 131 2797 or email [email protected].

For more information about The News’ Fostering a Better Future campaign, click here.