Ginny and her husband Peter have been fostering children for the past 14 years.

Ginny grew up in a family that fostered and after meeting Peter they both decided that fostering would work well around their full time jobs.

They are currently fostering five children between the ages of 2-16 alongside a child of their own and have had a variety of foster placements over the years, including short and long term and children with special and complex needs.

“It’s been challenging at times,” explains Ginny. When two of our current foster children arrived with us they didn’t speak and hadn’t been nurtured properly. This lead to behavioral problems, but when you help to build their sense of security and give them consistency, they really improve. The other children have all been very tolerant and understanding. They’re just fabulous, we’re very lucky to have them.”

Ginny’s professional background in mental health has really helped her in her role as a foster carer, as has the support from her local authority.

‘We recently moved from an agency to Sefton council and we’re so impressed with how local authorities have evolved their services – they have so much on offer for children,” she says.

“The Sefton training programme is amazing. It offers a great support network for the fostering community where you can meet others and keep up to date with the latest news and information. It makes you realise that whatever you’re going through, other families are going through it as well, and that really helps.”

And what would Ginny say is the best thing about being a foster carer?

“I just love it, we have so much fun together. The other day I was walking my daughter to gymnastics with the 4 boys. They were this tight group, chatting away like a little gang, all together, enjoying each other’s company and having fun. That’s what it’s all about.”