Lorna's story
Lorna has been a foster carer for more than 20 years and, together with her husband, looks after Haringey children from babies to 18 year-olds.
Originally from the West Indies, Lorna became a foster carer after losing her job. She fostered at first in Redbridge, before working for a private foster agency and now fosters directly for Haringey Council. Many of Lorna’s foster children have gone on to be permanently adopted by families or have stayed with her until college or school leaving age. Haringey People caught up with her to find out more about what being a foster carer involves.
Lorna says:
“It was always my ambition to look after disadvantaged children. You don’t really understand what it is like until you do it. I have three children of my own and six grandchildren and I have always seen my foster children as an extension of my own family. Every child is different and can come with different challenges. There is always a period of settling in. Obviously they have problems and challenges in their lives – they wouldn’t be in care if they didn’t. But when you see them turning things around, that is so rewarding. To know that you have helped them and done your best for them is a great feeling.”
"Often when children arrive they are very unsure, but they get lots of new experiences and are often sad to leave us. It is hard to see them leave, but you know they are moving on to somewhere better and you have done your best for them. My advice to anyone thinking about fostering is that it is a very rewarding job. You have to really want to do it, but it is so worth it.”