Forty Years of Rewarding Foster Caring

One of NEWFOCAS' carers has fostered for 40 years

8 September 2011 14:00

FORTY YEARS OF REWARDING FOSTER CARING
Sylvia W-B is a carer with oodles of dedication to the fostering role. She commenced caring forty years ago with her then husband before teaming up with her second husband TW to carry on the good work from their home in Deeside. Initially a foster carer for East Clwyd, which becasme Flintshire, S & T particularly specialized in looking after children in Youth Justice System, helping them to turn away from crime to a better way of living.
In 2002, S & T applied and were successful in changing direction and joining an Independent Fostering Agency NEWFOCAS, (North East Wales Foster Care Services), who primarily cater for children whose lives had been particularly traumatized. Sylvia latterly has undertaken this work as a single carer after the sad demise of Terry. Her main concern after his death was that she would not be prevented from fostering on her own!
Sylvia's success in helping children and providing them with a positive direction in their lives is due to openness to new learning and her unending patience and ability to listen, coupled with her genuine interest and desire to help every child who passes through her home. Many of the children she has fostered inh the past keep in touch, or visit her and she sees this as another branch of her extended family.
Sylvia is currently caring for a 13 year old lad, and will often help other NEWFOCAS carers by offering planed respite for a second child.  Sylvia says of fostering "it is the best thing anyone can do and it keeps me young” . Sylvia intends fostering for as long as her health will allow and as she is currently fitter than people half her age it is likely that this will be for years to come. We applaud Sylvia's continuing commitment and dedication to fostering and hope that she will be caring for children for many more years - well done.

ODE TO SYLVIA

It's forty long years, since Sylv' took the challenge of offering kids an alternative home
And we are marking this fact, a remarkable feat, with this ode to say a huge 'well done'
We think that you're great, we want to clone you and reproduce you over and over,
If we could do this we know that NEWFOCAS would always be in great clover.

There's been many a time, during all of those years when Syl wondered if that should be 'it'
I clearly remember, when Terry passed on, Sylvia asking if now she must quit?
But Sylv, not fostering, can you imagine? It's something that can't be contemplated
For as fostering goes, and we all agree, she must come out as A plus, plus rated,

I first met Sylvia over thirty years ago,
When in her basement ensuite lived the dogs she did show
I was her LA worker, a naïve one at that time
And the advice I used to give her,  probably was not worth a dime

I may have been more help as a counsellor of a type
Because that time of Sylvia's life was undergoing lots of hype
I saw her through her house move as her marriage would not save
And I have to say our Sylvia really impressed as someone brave

Over the next few years, I would contact her, drop off a child from the courts
Coz I was now in Youth Justice and Sylvia  was a remand carer of sorts
I then became the manager of the family placement team
And there were times within that role that I often caused a scene

It was for people like our Sylvia that I tried to improve conditions
Because the system didn't rate her nor expect carers to have ambitions
Sylvia always took her lot stoically, was always there on call~
To take any number of troubled kids, she'd take them in warts and all.

When I said I'd had enough of bureaucracy  and firmly called it a day
Little did I know that in a short time span Sylvia would come again my way
NEWFOCAS moved into infancy and it was around two thousand and two
That surprise, surprise, Sylvia contacted me, along with Terry too

They'd had enough of LA care, wanted a better deal
And came to see if NEWFOCAS would back caring that felt real.
Sylvia came, and stayed, a stalwart, even after Terry's sad demise;
Tho'  me think sometimes NEWFOCAS has been something of a surprise
ODE TO FORTY YEARS OF FOSTERING _ SYLVIA
The first lad placed, named J*****, nearly started world war three:
Little did we know that when he arrived, he was not what he appeared to be.
From the hut next to Gateway to Wales late at night, he nearly set that place on fire
And Sylvia's standing within her home town threatened to become quite dire

After  J***  moved on, then came A****G, I remember his placement day well
"A hundred and thirty four f****ing long miles they have driven me into this hell!”
As he kicked plans pots over and Carys & I wondered how on earth that we'd all manage
And we left Terry ruefully clearing up all the chaos and the damage.

And Sylvia and Terry rather wondered now, if they made the right decision
To leave straightforward LA work to offer NEWFOCAS a provision.
It didn't get better for quite a long while, but Sylvia stuck it all out;
Through C** and R**, N**  too, until L their hearts she did rout.

She was a troubled but lovable girl and she caused Sylvia a worrying time
For our L*** was not used to boundaries clear, nor toeing any particular line
Sylv had L**** together with N****  too, and double trouble doesn't begin to describe it
And Sylvia wondered spasmodically,  if it was approaching time from fostering for to quit.

But she soldiered on, doing what she does well,  'nother N****  and T*** caused stress
Then a brief spell for R** , and sibs before Christmas before settling for wonderful J***
J*** really attached, I think Sylvi did two, and became J***'s much loved substitute Mother
J** most possessive and wanting it all and resisted sharing her 'Sylv Mum' with any other

J*** tolerated M*** as a substitute 'sis', they becoming really quite friendly and cosy
Better by far than with W**, Li***, or C****, then reluctantly handing over to R****
There have been so many kids over the years that Sylv has opened her home to
And the ones named today, within this terrible ode, number only a smattering few

I could go on and on, telling tale after tale, but I can see you all yawns are a'stifling
So 'll acknowledge today, admiration galore that your fostering gains are not trifling
We think you're a star, and the kids think that too, that you are a national treasure
And we hope from today, you'll continue to care and go on forever and ever.

With much love & appreciation, Sylvia from all of your friends and colleagues within the NEWFOCAS Team and congratulations on completing 40 years as a very successful foster carer