Meet Shirley- Shirley has been a long term Barnsley foster carer for eight years. We spoke to Shirley about the girl who has been in her care since 2021. Sometimes children can feel shy and don't want to talk. Shirley tells us in her own words about how she helps children to feel confident in her home:
“When she arrived, she was very reluctant to talk, even say her name, or mine and struggled to make eye contact at all, she just looked at the floor. I started with a bit of a daft game, where I’d walk past, give her a gentle nudge or ruffle her hair and say, ‘You’re a funny onion you’, I’d laugh and keep walking.”
“Every time I passed her, I’d say: ‘You’re a funny cookie you.’ Eventually, and it didn’t take long, she was waiting for it, watching me through her fringe with a slight smile, she slowly started to respond by doing the same, I was a ‘funny banana!’ We then spent hours going through every fruit, vegetable, household object I could think of and it did the trick, we were off!
“I introduced her to my children and grandkids, and they helped bring her out of her shell. She struck an immediate and adorable connection with my son, who to this day, without fail, she addresses him and refers to him as ‘my best mate’ rather than his name.”
“I’m a fierce advocate for any child in my care and will I do everything I can to help them grow and be able to move on to the next stage of their life, whatever that is, being happy and comfortable in their own skin and able to understand how important it is form them to use their voice.”
Could you foster a local child? Find out more about the magic of fostering with Barnsley by downloading our info pack. You can also book an informal chat with one of our fostering advisors who are happy to answer any questions you have. Book your call back today and get started on your fostering journey.
