WHEN it comes to fostering, no one placement is the same. It is understandable for people to look at fostering as providing long-term care for a particular child, and while that may be true for many cases there are plenty of circumstances where foster parents provide care for a number of weeks, days or even hours.

This type of short-term care relief is often known as respite care.

For the past five years Shirley has been one of the foster carers helping to provide respite care for children in Thurrock.

"When I retired I felt the time was right to begin my fostering journey. Some people think that there's an age limit to fostering, but for me starting in my sixties helps me bring a different perspective to children's lives.

"Respite foster care is different to other types of fostering as I am providing temporary care for a child or young person when their primary carers (birth parents, foster parents, or adoptive parents) need a break."

Foster carers come from all age groups and backgrounds, living in all kinds of homes. But, the one variable they all share is wanting to make a difference to a child's life.

"I am a single foster carer, another common misconception is that you need to be part of a couple to foster – you don't!

"This allows me to be very flexible in my approach and I can host the child or children in my own home or sometimes I go and stay in the child's fostering home.

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"The benefit of this is that life continues as usual, the children attend their usual school and after school activities and continue to see their friends."

Since Shirley started fostering, she hasn't looked back and the decision to become a carer has changed her life.

"Fostering has been a wonderful addition to my life and gives me a real sense of purpose. I would strongly advise anyone who is thinking of fostering to speak to the team at Thurrock.

"Each fostering situation is unique, there are many different options you can choose and still make a huge difference to a child's life."

For more information email [email protected] or call 0800 652 1256 to talk to a member of the friendly team.