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VIDEO: Council Leader talks about his experience as a foster carer

17 January 2024
Cllr Paul Stuart talks to us about his family's experience of fostering.

After seven years as a foster carer, Leader of Wirral Council Cllr Paul Stuart has shared his experiences to encourage other families to open up their hearts and homes.

Cllr Stuart and his wife Katherine became foster carers in 2017. Since that time, they have supported more than 50 children and young people who needed a place to call home.

Talking about their experience, Cllr Stuart said:

Knowing the support that you give to those young people who come into care and seeing the end results of that, is so rewarding.

When asked what he would say to someone who was thinking about fostering, he said: 

I would say that if you’ve ever thought about it to just make contact with the local authority, to make those first enquiries. You don't need special qualifications to become a foster carer. You just need a room, a home and a heart.

You can watch his full interview here:

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Wirral Council’s fostering team is looking for people from all walks of life to become foster carers. If you have been considering fostering get in touch to find out more about the journey, and what life could be like as a foster carer if you were to join Wirral’s fostering family. Visit Enquire - Foster 4 for more information.

Fostering with your local council means all money is spent on frontline services, and the child is more likely to be able to stay close to their school, friends and family networks.