FOSTERING
‘I like the
big family
feeling’
“The best thing about fostering is helping children and making a difference
to their life,” said Shakuntla Gittins, Ealing’s current Foster Carer of the Year.
Could you follow in her footsteps?
“I
recommend fostering
wholeheartedly,” said Shakuntla,
who has fostered for nine years.
“I’ve always loved children and it
is so rewarding.
“My mum was a foster carer for Ealing
for 22 years. Because of her I always
wanted to be a foster carer and, when the
opportunity finally came up, I jumped at it.
“I like having that big family feeling
around me. There is always something
going on. The foster children get along so
well with my family and are all welcomed
and made to feel part of everything.
“I have become very good friends
with other carers and we meet each
other and chat on the phone all the
time. And Ealing’s foster care team
is really, really good and everyone
there is great and so helpful.”
Shakuntla currently has two girls with
her – an 11-year-old who has been
with her for two years; and an eight-
year-old who has been with her since
November. She has had children of all
ages – from five-month-old babies to
15-year-olds; and has had up to four
girls at the same time before.
“I like to know how they are
progressing,” she said. “And the last
two siblings I cared for are still in touch
regularly. The first two siblings I had
here contacted me out of the blue
recently after moving back to London,
so we went for a coffee.”
Read the full story at
ealingnewsextra.co.uk/features/
big-family
MORE INFO
Currently Ealing has
approximately 100
fostering families, but
with around 340 looked after
children, more carers from all
backgrounds, ethnicity and age
are welcome.
Foster Care Fortnight takes place
in May. To find out more about
fostering, read the advert on the
facing page; or call freephone
0800 731 6550, email
[email protected] or
visit www.ealingfosteradopt.co.uk
around ealing April 2018
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