Christina and Suzy have been foster parents with Orchard Fostering for six years. To celebrate Pride Month (June 1st– 30th), they share the rewarding story of their fostering journey along with some words of encouragement for any potential foster parents.

If you’re interested in fostering, please reach out to Orchard Fostering today. We’re available on the phone or via email – you can also fill out a form directly on our contact page.

“It all started for us back in April 2017, we were together 4 years at that stage, engaged and were exploring growing our family. We did a lot of research into what would suit us as a couple. Having our own child was never an option for a number of reasons. We read a lot of books and blogs about fostering and decided to pursue it.

There was an information day at a local hotel and we attended and spoke to social workers and foster carers. Both of us loved being around children and we were both Cub Scout leaders at the time. We had a spare bedroom. It all just felt right.

We made some enquiries and Orchard Fostering got back to us straight away. There was an initial phone call, it didn’t matter that we were a same sex couple and not married or didn’t have children of our own. The main thing was that we had the space, time, and love to give.

After the phone call, a social worker came to see us and did a more detailed initial assessment. It was some weeks later we found out we could start the official assessment process. We were both very excited!

We were allocated an assessing social worker. They visited us multiple times over the following seven months. It’s a very detailed but necessary process. No stone is left unturned. We learned a lot about ourselves and about us as a couple. Eventually, in January 2018 we were in front of the fostering committee. After a lot of waiting around, we found out we were approved. We were over the moon and went for lunch to celebrate.

Within a couple of weeks, we had our first placement, two boys as an emergency. They were two incredible kids who were with us for two weeks. We know that in those two weeks we made a difference. The older brother sent us a message the following year thanking us. Our next placement was that March, another boy. He was with us for three weeks, another emergency placement. These cases can be heart-breaking, but you know you are doing the right thing when you get a smile and a contented hug at bedtime. Not to mention, knowing the young person feels safe and loved before they go to sleep.

Our next placement was two girls. We were nervous, we hadn’t cared for girls yet and they were quite young! We were told it was for six months, to give their parents a chance to get back on their feet. Here we are five years later and the youngest of those girls is still with us, thriving! She says she has three Mammies and considers myself and my wife as her parents. We have a great relationship with her biological family and that really helps things to run smoothly.

We have never had any negativity towards our relationship and have found the local community very supportive. Our young person is also very accepting and can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t be. She was even a flower girl at our wedding in 2019.

We had another young person, an unaccompanied minor last year for 6 weeks, even though she was from a completely different culture, she was very accepting. We have found our orientation doesn’t matter at all.

If you have space in your heart and your home go for it! It has enhanced our lives in ways we could never imagine.”

To learn more about same sex couples and foster care, read how Same Sex & LGBT Couples are Encouraged to Foster, and 5 Tips on Support and Advice for Foster Teens and Children who identify as LGBTQ. Orchard Fostering offers help and support in finance and in training.

Contact us today to begin the fostering journey.