Keith and Rebecca’s Fostering Story 

Keith and Rebecca were approved as foster carers with Swiis North East at the end of 2024 and are now well into their first full year of fostering. Shortly after their approval, a 13-year-old boy, now 14, joined their household on a short-term arrangement.

Keith and Rebecca have kindly shared their fostering story so far, including what inspired them to become foster carers, why they chose to foster teenagers, and what their experience has been like so far.

“We were inspired to begin fostering as Rebecca was unable to have children, and we both wanted them. We began the fostering process initially through Hartlepool Council, but soon realised that, as our businesses were booming, it was not the right time for us. 

“When Covid hit, Rebecca’s nephew came to live with us. He was having problems at home, and he stayed for two years until he finished his GCSEs. It gave us immense satisfaction knowing we had helped him for his future and realised that this was something we wanted to do for other children. We then began the fostering process again via Swiis through a recommendation. We found the application process fantastic due to an excellent independent social worker called Laura, making it easy and enjoyable.”

When you become a foster carer with Swiis, you are approved to care for children and young people of all ages, but with the flexibility to choose the age group that best suits your household and experience. For Keith and Rebecca, fostering a teenager felt like the right fit.

“We decided teenagers would be a good fit as we thought that they were more forgotten in the system, as most people we know wanted babies or toddlers. We believed we had the skills and knowledge from caring for Rebecca’s nephew, which we could implement with another teenager. Also, with having larger dogs, we felt that a teenager would fit into our home life and general activities better, with being able to join in as we like being outdoors.”

Younger teenagers typically start trying new activities and finding hobbies they enjoy. As a foster carer, one of your roles is to support your young person in helping them to explore new experiences. Keith and Rebecca have had lots of practice with supporting their young person this year, doing a range of fun activities and outings. 

“We have supported our teenager by enabling his interests, such as cadets and cycling. We discovered he was unable to swim, so we booked him straight into lessons, and he is progressing well. 

“He loves joining in on activities with the Armed Forces Bikers Veterans charity, and he is a big help.

“We also regularly take him to activities such as Jump 360, Play Factory, Laser Quest, and Go-Karting with other children to help develop his social skills. Some of the activities we go to are with young people who have autism and their parents as although he has not been diagnosed with autism, he is still awaiting assessment, but he relates better in this company.”

Foster carers also play a significant role in supporting their foster child or young person with their gender identity and sexuality by being respectful and providing a safe and supportive environment. Keith and Rebecca have fully embraced this part of fostering within their own household. 

“We support him with his gender considerations as he sometimes refers to himself as nonbinary. We encourage him to be himself, and that it does not matter what others tell him he should be. He occasionally attends LGBTQ+ events and meetings. Keith also wears nail varnish to encourage individuality and to allow him to be himself. We support him to attend the Children in Care Council, so he is heard and has a voice.”

Becoming a foster carer comes with many different responsibilities, all of which help the child or young person develop in all aspects of their life. For instance, if agreed by the courts, children and young people can maintain contact with members of their birth or extended family, and foster carers play a key role in supporting those relationships. Foster carers also need to be actively involved in the child or young person’s education, helping them with schoolwork and communicating with the school. Keith and Rebecca share that they are actively involved in both of these responsibilities with their young person.

“We support him in interactions with his siblings and other family members. He is doing well at school, and we have regular interactions with the school, including in person if needed, to show him we are fully invested in his education.”

Fostering teenagers is a massively rewarding experience, and for Keith and Rebecca, their first year of fostering has already been filled with so many great memories and milestones.

“The most rewarding part has been seeing him thrive and experience things for the first time. From going on his first water slide, jumping off boats, flying in an aeroplane, swimming a full length, his first cadet uniform, riding on the back of a motorbike, and his first sleepover with a friend from school. Even taking him to the beach and watching him get so much joy from skimming stones. 

“All these were really special moments, seeing how happy he was. It has also been rewarding hearing from the school, with them commenting on how much he had changed his attitude for the better and getting compliments on his appearance.”

As Keith and Rebecca approach the end of their first year of fostering, they share some valuable advice for those who are thinking about fostering. 

“Although it is challenging at times, it is very rewarding. We found that routine, support, communication, and consistency were vital to make a safe and happy environment for all.”

Thinking about becoming a foster carer? 

If Keith and Rebecca’s fostering story has inspired you to become a foster carer, contact our recruitment team, who can tell you more about the fostering process and the support and exceptional fostering allowance you receive as a Swiis foster carer.