The Lifelong Relationships Built Through Fostering by Carrie Cumpper, Senior Social Worker
One of the biggest misconceptions about fostering is that it ends when a young person turns 18. However, for the foster carers I work with at Ascent, the end of a placement does not mean the end of the relationship. Carers support young people into adulthood and beyond, remaining a key source of support at a time when they often need it most.
As a therapeutic fostering agency, we see time and time again that fostering is about more than just providing a home. It is about creating connections, building trust, and helping children develop a sense of belonging that lasts long after they leave care. It’s about helping them to see that relationships can be enduring, despite their early experiences often teaching them otherwise.
I have immense appreciation for the foster carers who spend their time helping young people prepare for their next steps, whether that be moving away to university or transitioning into semi-independent living. This often involves applications, interviews, viewings, and navigating the anxiety and uncertainty that can come with not knowing what the next stage of life will look like.
However, when those young people move on, the support doesn’t stop. There are phone calls about the practical stuff, care packages sent when they’re having a tough time, and invitations home whenever they need a break from the pressures of adult life.
I love hearing stories of care-experienced individuals returning home for birthdays, festive celebrations, summer barbecues and family parties. There are young people who have long since moved into their own homes but still join their foster families on holiday. Some of our carers have supported care-experienced young people through pregnancy, birth and parenthood. They have shared advice during sleepless nights, provided practical help when confidence is low, and celebrated milestones alongside them.
Some carers proudly talk about their former foster children’s children as their grandchildren. What began as a fostering home has evolved into a lifelong family connection and extended support system for the care leaver.
For children who have experienced trauma, instability or loss, these enduring relationships are incredibly powerful. They provide a secure base from which to explore the world, knowing there is always someone to come back to.
The transition into adulthood can be challenging for any young person. Most young adults continue to rely on family members for advice, emotional support and practical help well into their twenties and beyond. Care-experienced young people deserve those same opportunities.
At the heart of therapeutic fostering is the belief that relationships heal. Those relationships do not suddenly lose their importance when a young person reaches a particular age. If anything, they often grow stronger as they evolve from a caring role into an enduring family bond.
I am continually inspired by my foster carers, not only for the support they provide during a fostering arrangement, but for the commitment they show long afterwards. Their willingness to provide unconditional support demonstrates the profound difference that fostering can make.
If you would like to find out more about fostering and the amazing difference you could make in a young persons life. Give usa call on 0203 757 0070 or click HERE to receive a call back. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have on fostering and take you through the process.