Colchester parents - who've fostered 38 children - encourage others this Christmas
An additional classroom of children come into care every week in Essex
As the festive period gets under way, Essex county council is asking people to open up their homes and hearts and make next Christmas a family Christmas for a child in care.
Across the East of England there are 7000 children in care and 1,127 in Essex.
An additional classroom of children come into care every week.
One foster carer who knows how challenging this time of year can be for children in care is Sheila from Colchester.
While pregnant with her daughter back in 2010, Sheila saw a foster family storyline in ‘Home and Away’ that sparked her interest in becoming a foster parent.
Later, while working as a childminder, a foster carer came to Sheila with a baby who was suffering drug withdrawal. Sheila and her husband Paul then made the decision to start fostering.
Since then, the two have fostered around 38 children.
Paul tells Greatest Hits Radio "as long as we make lots of children happy and not just one. We try and move them on to find their forever family, hope that they're happy, and then we can do it again for others."
The couple currently have three boys who we have spent almost three years with them. Sheila tells us she can’t imagine life without them.
"If it's able to be worked out so a child can go home that's obviously the best scenario. It's not often the parents fault they just haven't been given the tools to look after their children properly", says Sheila.
Paul tells us every Summer they have a big BBQ and invite all the kids they've ever fostered.
"We've just got this massive family and all these lovely children.
"It is hard work but if you've ever thought about doing it then you really should pick up the phone and give it a go. Because it's the most rewarding thing.
"If people don't help these children where do they go?" says Sheila.
"I'm 60 now this year. All my friends are reading books in the evening and I'm out on rollercoasters, ice-skating, sledging - all the things you don't expect to be doing at 60" says Sheila.
When the boys arrived at Sheila and Paul’s home, they didn’t believe in Father Christmas. Previously they were told that they were ‘too naughty for Christmas presents’.
Sheila and Paul went on a mission to deliver a special Christmas for the boys; watching back-to-back festive films, cooking Christmas dinner, decorating the house and putting up a tree.
Sheila said “All children deserve a safe, loving environment, where they can experience the magic of Christmas. Whether a child is 4 years old or 18, they’re still children.
Councillor Spence from Cabinet Member for Children's Services said: “Christmas is a magical time for most children, but not for everyone. In Essex we currently have 1,127 children in care. As many of these children as possible live with amazing foster families, but as there is a shortage of foster carers, they can’t all have the family Christmas we want for our children.
“Children come into care for all sorts of reasons. Their parents may be taken ill, involved in an accident, or might not safely be able to care for their children. Children might only need care for a few weeks, but when there is no-one else available to look after them, foster families are essential.”
Essex County Council is the largest fostering agency in Essex, with more than 492 foster families working with the Essex Council Fostering Service.
"We urgently need more foster carers to join us so that every child in care can live in a family home" says Essex county council.
Foster carers can have their own children living at home, can have pets, own or rent their homes, work full-time or part-time, or foster full time.
As long as you are over 21, there is no upper age limit.
If you’re interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer, you can read more about what is involved at [www.essex.gov.uk/foster](http://An additional classroom of children come into care every week. |newtab) or call Essex County Council’s fostering team 0800 801 530.