I was fostered as a baby before being adopted, and sometimes I think about how different my life could have been if the right people hadn't stepped forward at the right moment. I don't remember my foster carers, but I know they were there when I needed someone most. They were the bridge to the childhood I was lucky enough to have — a childhood filled with love, stability and the chance to grow into the person I am today. I was lucky. I had a lovely childhood, and every child should experience the same.

That's why the situation in Hertfordshire stays with me. Around 1,000 children are currently in care across the county, yet only about 400 households foster through Hertfordshire County Council. Those numbers aren't just statistics. They represent children waiting for safety, waiting for stability, waiting for someone to say yes. When I look at those figures, I can't help thinking that I might not be here without the foster carers who stepped in for me.

Not everyone can foster, and that's okay. Life circumstances, health, housing, work and family commitments all play a part. But everyone can help in some way. Even small actions can make a difference — sharing fostering information through community social posts, displaying a poster in a workplace or window using local fostering materials, or simply talking about fostering with friends and neighbours to keep the message alive through local awareness chats. These small acts help the message reach the people who can foster — the ones who just need a nudge or a reminder that they might be able to offer a child a safe place to land.

Foster carers don't always know how a child's story ends. They love, they care, they let go, and often they never hear what happened next. But their impact lasts a lifetime. I am living proof of that. If someone feels able to foster, Hertfordshire County Council would love to hear from them through their fostering team. And if fostering isn't possible, people can still be part of the story by helping the message reach the right homes.

Fostering isn't just about taking a child into your home. It's about helping them find their way to one. And I will always be grateful to the people who helped me find mine.

For more information:

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/childrens-social-care/fostering/campaigns/foster-help.aspx?utm_source=shorturl&utm_medium=helpwebpage&utm_campaign=fosterhelp