Last week, I came across a radio show where Nihal Arthanayake interviewed Brenda Farrel, the Director of Commercial Services at Barnados. This charity was established in 1867 by Thomas John Barnardo.
I was amazed to learn about Barnardo's philosophy, which refused to discriminate between the 'deserving' and 'undeserving' poor and accepted all children, regardless of race, disability or circumstance. This philosophy still guides the charity today as they believe every child deserves the best possible start in life, irrespective of their background.
During the interview, Brenda Farrel discussed the current state of foster care in the UK, which is in crisis due to a lack of public awareness, the cost of living crisis, young adults returning to live with their parents, and ageing foster parents. It is the worst crisis they have seen, with 100,000 children coming into care, and two-thirds of them ending up in foster care.
This is an alarming statistic and highlights the importance of raising awareness about the role of foster parents. Brenda also dispelled some myths about the requirements for becoming a foster parent. She explained that a suitable foster parent does not have to be married or have had their own children. Potential foster parents receive training and support, and taking on the role of a foster parent and providing love, stability, and security is an enriching experience.
Having spent my entire childhood in the care system, I understand the significance of having a loving family who can provide support, stability, and guidance. Fortunately, I have found an incredible foster family who has played a vital role in my journey from teenager to adulthood and helped me pursue my passion for becoming a professional athlete. Their unwavering encouragement and guidance have been instrumental in my success, and I am forever grateful to them for the love and care they have shown me.
I am deeply passionate about the care system and have established a new project called "From Care To Where" with the help of my friend and mentor, Carl Adams, through his Primal Runners Organisation. This project aims to guide and mentor young people either in or leaving care, focusing on exploring the breathtaking natural beauty of the North Downs Way. I aim to help prevent these young people from becoming another care system statistic and empower them to dream big.
If you want to become a foster parent, I encourage you to visit www.barnardos.org.uk. I also highly recommend listening to the full interview with Brenda Farrel on Nihal Arthanayake's show . It's an eye-opening conversation highlighting the importance of providing children with a stable and loving environment in the care system. You can also pledge to support my project here.
Best, David.