Could you foster a child like

Sam is a lively, confident, happy five-year-old with three siblings. He loves playing with his toys – particularly his dinosaurs – and enjoys being outdoors and riding his bicycle. Sam is doing well at school, engages well in lessons, and has a good group of friends. Sam needs to be supported to have daily routines in place and consistent boundaries. He would benefit from living in a stimulating home with his siblings or other children, where he can participate in age-appropriate games and new opportunities and experiences. Having the opportunity to take part in sporting activities and clubs would be beneficial.

Holly is a two-year-old girl, who can walk on her own, eat solid food without help, and is very active. Holly is not yet speaking in full sentences but communicates using sounds, hand gestures and simple words. Holly needs carers who can provide consistency, boundaries and routines, alongside age-appropriate activities to help her meet her developmental milestones. She would benefit from attending nursery and local groups such as rhyme time to help develop her language and social skills. She loves dressing up and role play – especially her toy kitchen. She enjoys being around other children and adults, and is lovely and bubbly!

Matthew is a nine-year-old boy who is polite and friendly and ready to engage in activities. He has an enthusiastic approach to life and is always willing to try new things. Family relationships are important to Matthew, and he particularly likes playing with his cousins. Matthew is autistic and attends a special school and needs a calm, empathetic, therapeutic carer to help soothe and regulate Matthew’s feelings at times of distress. Matthew likes reading, enjoys playing games and loves bouncing on a trampoline!

Eve, aged 9, and her sister love painting and being creative. Eve is the eldest sibling and is particularly close to her younger sister, Alex, who’s 7. Eve and Alex both enjoy school and have a number of friends. Eve has taken on a ‘mothering’ role towards her younger siblings, while Alex is quieter and more sensitive. Both girls have been quite anxious about the care plan for their family – particularly whether they will be able to stay together, and see grandparents. Eve and Alex enjoy doing each other’s hair, getting dressed up to go out, singing and dancing. Eve has been described by her carers as a ‘delightful child’, and Alex is popular with her classmates.

Chris is 16 and is currently living with Mum, but sadly, there are too many vulnerabilities for him to remain there and space is limited. He really likes animals, especially dogs. Fitness and exercise are important to Chris, particularly playing football and running. Chris has an Education and Health Care Plan and will need support to help him prepare for living independently.

He is currently studying motor vehicle maintenance at college, has a girlfriend, and likes spending time with friends. Chris can travel independently, but needs some boundaries around curfews and good communication about sharing his whereabouts. Chris likes wearing nice clothes and would like a part-time job – ideally related to car mechanics – to have more money to spend. He would need support to develop his skills for independence – particularly around managing a budget.

Charlie is 11 years old and is ready to move to a fostering family who can provide the care he needs to grow and become more confident. Ideally, Charlie would be the youngest child and could live with an older child. He wants to be woken up and taken to school by the same person. Charlie loves reading, visiting museums, castles and learning about history.

Charlie finds school tricky, especially learning in large classes, although his attendance is very good. He would like to have school friends and isn’t confident to make these. Charlie will be starting secondary school in September. He will need to feel secure with his new family to support him with this transition and settling into a new school. Charlie is very well liked where he lives, and is described as very kind, enjoys looking after those around him and knows some great jokes!

Samir is a 15-year-old Muslim boy from Sudan. His first language is a tribal one, but he speaks some Arabic which is the national language. He has never been to school and so he only has basic reading and writing skills in Arabic. Prior to him fleeing his home, due to the political unrest and outbreak of war, many of those in his village were killed in an attack to wipe out his tribe, including friends and family. He managed to flee his country to find safety and has spent many months in different refugee camps. He has been able to contact his mother and siblings through a friend who is in the same refugee camp as her but is understandably worried about the safety of his family.

Samir has been attending school since arriving in the UK, is keen to learn English and has started to make some friends. He loves football and supports Manchester City. Samir needs to feel safe where he lives to be able to explore his past trauma and to begin to participate in local activities. He would benefit from being taught how to cook and begin to take care of himself independently. He would like to study to become a car mechanic, like his father and uncle.