Professional Fostering Service celebrates 35 years

Speaking at the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings Director of Barnardo's NI Lynda Wilson outlined why she founded the charity's NI fostering service in 1980: "I saw the need for a fostering service after working with one young man who was constantly running away from children's homes. He was crying out for a stable long term foster home. We were eventually able to find a placement for him and help get his life back on track. It was from there that the service really started. Fostering can be challenging the same as any job, but the rewards are immeasurable. We have had so many success stories over the years and so many children's lives turned around. I am so proud that we are now celebrating 35 years"

Barnardo's foster carers Colin and Sharon Jamison from Belfast are Barnardo's NI longest servinig foster carers having been with the charity for 25 years. In that time they have fostered over 20 children including a number of long term placements with serious disabilities.

Colin Jamison says it has been a privilege to welcome so many young people into their home: "We have two daughters of our own. We thought we would like more children but decided we wanted to foster. With fostering you change lives and our own lives have been enriched. Currently we have a long of 13 who has disabilities and a two year old boy. It keeps us young and they get along brilliantly."

Foster carers Brian and Avril Kenwell from Ballynahinch decided to foster once their three children were grown up. Nine years ago they welcomed Elaine McAuley into their  home.  Elaine, now 20 and working as a care assistant says back then she had no trust in anyone: "I was scared, I had 27 moves before I came to live with Brian and Avril. I didn't know what was going on and I don't know where I would have ended up without them. Knowing them has turned my whole life around."

As part of the celebrations at Stormont a balloon release was held and later the Lord Mayor of Belfast held a reception for children, foster carers and staff in the Mayor's Parlour followed by Belfast City Hall floodlit in Barnardo's green to mark the anniversary.

Barnardo's prides itself on placing the right people with the right child and is keen to promote the benefits of long term placements. At any one time in Northern Ireland there is a need for 200 foster carers and an urgent need to recruit more couples or single people who are able to offer a child a safe and nurturing home. For further informaion about Barnardo's NI Professional Fostering Service T: 028 9065 2288 or visit www.barnardos.org.uk/fosteringandadoption