A WOMAN from Ellesmere Port, who has fostered over 30 children, has spoken out about how important foster care is.

Paula Boyd has been fostering for just over 10 years and has two children of her own, Zoe, and Joshua, 19.

Speaking to the Globe, Paula said: “Zoe at the time was the only girl in the marine cadets but when she was younger, she always used to bring boys home as friends, and some of these boys were in foster care.

“It was lovely to see the difference that Zoe and the marine cadets were making so she said, ‘why don’t you do it mum’ so I checked with both of the children were ok with it.”

Paula fostered one boy for nine years, who was close with Joshua, and they shared a love of scootering and skateboarding.

She mainly fosters long-term but also does respite for children who need it. She currently has two children, who she has had for four years.

Paula said: “I mainly foster teenagers. I like having someone to watch a movie with, or do gaming with.

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“My daughter now lives in London, but my son who lives with me, says anyone who comes through the door is another brother or sister for him.

“He’s taken some of the kids to gigs with him, because he is into music and performing arts and they love it.

“We don’t want to bring attention to the fact they are in foster care.”

Paula also spoke about the importance of foster caring and how rewarding it is.

She said: “It is so important to give something back and make a difference in a child’s life. If you have the capacity to do it, you should.

“It is so enriching and so rewarding. It can be challenging, but after the trauma these children have been to you are bound to get some challenging behaviour.”

'Open your heart'

When asked what advice she would give to anyone thinking about fostering, Paula said to “open your heart, open your home and open your mind.”

She said: “You can start from a respite, short-term point of view.

“I see them as little soldiers and we need to make the best for them.

“I don’t treat them any different than my own, we are a very inclusive family and as soon as they come through the door we treat them as our own.

“I would say to anyone if they are thinking about it, give it a go, and see if you can make a difference to a child’s life. You can go to sleep at night thinking you’ve made a difference.

“It’s so nice to see the children succeed in education as well as that’s something I’m quite big on.”

Paula also explained that she has great support from her social worker, along with a great support network of other foster carers who are all there for each other.

A spokesperson for Foster4All said: "If you think you have the compassion, resilience and drive to make a difference to the lives of children and young people and you’d like to find out more about how Foster4 could support you in becoming a foster carer, then please get in touch.

"You can visit foster4.co.uk or call 01925 444100.

"You can also pop along to an Information Session on Saturday January, 28 10am -11am, in the meeting room at Theatre Porto (Whitby Hall, Ellesmere Port). No need to book. Alternatively, if you visit the foster4 website you can find details about online Information Sessions that are running and sign up for one of those instead.

"You can also email fosteringrecruitment@warrington.gov.uk or use @foster4cheshire on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter."