A care-experienced adult from Worcester is opening up about her journey through the foster care system, sharing how meaningful relationships helped shape her life.
Running from 12 to 25 May, Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s largest campaign dedicated to raising awareness about fostering. This year’s theme, The Power of Relationships, highlights the essential role that strong, supportive bonds play in the lives of children in care demonstrating how connection, trust, and stability can change futures.
This year, care-experienced adult Tash has generously shared her personal journey to help raise awareness and inspire others to consider fostering. Tash entered the care system at just four years old, alongside her 10-month-old sister. They were placed with foster carers Barbara and Brian who became Tash’s long-term family and continue to be central figures in her life today.
Now 29 years old, Tash is a qualified teacher, happily married, and a mum to her young son, Louis. Reflecting on her journey, she said: “I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today, professionally or family wise, if it wasn’t for being put into care and having the family that looked after me and still looks after me.”
Tash’s story powerfully illustrates how fostering can create lifelong bonds and lasting stability. She speaks about the deep emotional connections formed not only with her foster parents and siblings, but also the positive relationship that was nurtured between her foster and birth families.
Her birth mum, Paula, who lives in a supported living home due to her additional needs, has remained part of Tash’s life. Tash explains how the respectful and compassionate relationship between Barbara and Paula made a huge difference growing up: “Paula, my birth mum, I think she understands to the best of her abilities that she wasn’t able to effectively care for the two of us together. And from pretty early on developed quite a good relationship with Barbara, my foster mum, because it was almost like Barbara was kind of her mum too.”
Maria White, Assistant Director for Permanency – Care Proceedings, Fostering & Adoption at Worcestershire County Council said: “We’re so grateful to Tash for sharing her story with us. It’s wonderful to hear an example of how understanding and cooperation between adults can give children in care a sense of continuity, love and belonging.
“There are many reasons why people choose to foster—some after their own children have grown up, some as a way to give back, and others looking to make meaningful use of their time in retirement. But across all experiences, one thing remains constant: it’s the power of relationships that truly changes lives.”
Worcestershire County Council is urgently seeking more foster carers to provide loving, stable homes to local children who need them. Tash’s story shows just how life-changing a positive fostering experience can be.
To find out more about fostering, visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/fostering
Watch Tash's full interview here: https://youtu.be/_XKhorxnb1I
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