'I made a decision 20 years ago which changed my life forever'
A woman in Merseyside said a life changing decision twenty years ago has completely transformed her world. Leighann Carlton decided to act on that decision in 2023 after a prolonged period of questioning her purpose in life and said it's the best thing she's ever done.
Leighann, 40 is originally from Southampton and worked in children's services for the local authority there before relocating to Merseyside in 2022. Shortly afterwards, both of Leighann's sisters moved their families up to the North West and they now live a twenty minute drive away from each other and have formed a solid support system. It was then Leighann started to think the time was right to become a foster parent.
Nonetheless, the decision to start the fostering journey was far from impulsive, Leighann said: "So it's actually been a really long time in the making. I made a decision 20 years ago, which makes me feel really old.
READ MORE: Scouser who came ‘from nothing’ now making clothes for celebrities
READ MORE: 'My dad was impaled in a crash on the M53, I don't want him to be forgotten'
"Back in about 2006, I knew I wasn't going to have my own children and I wanted an unconventional family and knew I was going to foster, but I had to wait until the time was right.
"We were on a family day out in December 2023 and somehow the topic of fostering and adoption came up, because my sisters knew that's something I'd wanted to do forever. It was them that pushed me to do it in the end, because they said to me, 'you'd make a really good mummy. Why aren't you doing this?'."
After receiving everyone's support, Leighann contacted Sefton Council's fostering service and made a tentative enquiry without any expectations. To her surprise, Leighann was contacted shortly afterwards and scheduled in for a meeting a few weeks later. She said: "So the year I turned 40, I wanted to do a number of things, and one of them was to apply and become a foster carer. A month after my 40th birthday, I went to panel and became approved as respite in emergency.
"For a while, I was wondering what my purpose was in life, because I got to that age where everybody's asking you, 'why aren't you married? Why haven't you settled down? Why don't you have kids?'. I found my purpose in fostering and I found a way to fulfil the part of me that wanted to help and give back somehow. It's the best decision I've ever made."
However, it's important to note the work of fostering can be challenging and involves working with young people from various backgrounds - some of whom have experienced difficult childhoods including trauma and abuse. Leighann said it can be an emotional rollercoaster, but also educational and rewarding. She added: "You realise there are so many thing we take for granted.
"In one placement, me and my family took two young people to the cinema and their reaction was joy and amazement. It turned out they'd never been to see a film before. Another young person had never been swimming in a pool. So you get to experience so many firsts that I wouldn't assume were 'firsts' and then you realise, 'Oh, they've never done this before'."
One of the highlights of Leighann's journey thus far was the two placements she had over the festive period. Leighann did her utmost to ensure the young people had as welcoming and happy time as possible and also realised the joy it brought to her own life, she said: "I got to go and think about what kind of gifts would they like and my sisters and their in-laws got them gifts so everyone was included.
"I haven't got up at silly o'clock on Christmas Day for a long time, so it was all absolutely knackering but it was a really, really nice time. When they went home, it was a bit emotional and I was like, 'it's gonna be really quiet at home now' but that's part of the job."
Sadly, there is an increasing shortage of available foster carers which has prompted Sefton Council to issue a 'heartfelt appeal' and asked residents to consider fostering this year. The council confirmed the need for foster carers has never been greater because more and more children are entering care system. As a result, the local authority said its capacity is almost full and revealed it needs 30 new fostering families by the end of the year to meet current demand.
Laura Farrow is Sefton Council's Fostering Recruitment Manager and she wants people to know the benefits that fostering can bring to people's lives and also show how inclusive it is and the support available: "Many people are passionate about fostering but worry they may not have the time or capacity to commit.
"The good news is there are options to fit a variety of lifestyles, including full-time fostering and respite care. Your support network - family and friends can also play an active role in supporting your fostering journey. We can help prospective carers find a role that fits their circumstances”.
Councillor Diane Roscoe, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care explained there are so many children who still need the safety and security of a home and hope the council's appeal will persuade people to consider becoming foster parents. Cllr Roscoe added: "Our foster carers go above and beyond to create safe, welcoming homes, and we’re incredibly grateful for their exceptional care and compassion. However, we urgently need more people to give loving homes to children in Sefton. Every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment.
"Fostering is one of the most impactful ways to make a difference in a young person’s life. At this time of year when people are evaluating their lives, I would encourage anyone who has ever thought about it to get in touch with our fostering team to see if it could be right for you."
If you would like more information about fostering then please go to Seftonfostering.co.uk where you can complete an enquiry form or call on 0800 923 2777.