A COUPLE who have given a loving home to 28 vulnerable looked-after children have spoken of their fostering journey over the past quarter of a century.

Keith and Helen Atkinson have taken in children, teenagers and unaccompanied minors seeking asylum — some for a few days and others for several months or years, depending on what the children needed.

The couple, who live in the Walmersley area of Bury, and who have two children of their own, described the role as “very rewarding”.

The Atkinsons began fostering 25 years ago after their daughter Katie, now in her 40s, asked if her friend could stay for the night rather than sleeping on a park bench.

Mr Atkinson, aged 70, said: “She was 15 or 16 at the time. We were horrified. We said yes, of course. It turned out there were family rows involved. At the time there was a children’s home in Bury but we didn’t want her to live there. I just took my heart in my hands and said she could live with us and the look on her face was one of such relief. That was the start of it. A social worker came to talk to us and it went from there.”

Children, aged 0-18, enter foster care because they or their families are going through a crisis. Often these children have been removed from their parents because they are unsafe, abused or neglected or their parents are unable to care for them. As of 31 March 2019 there were 54,870 children in foster care in England.

The Atkinsons are approved as foster carers for children aged 14 to 18, but have provided emergency care for a nine-year-old boy and a 13-year-old, which required a change of to their Terms of Approval with the local authority.

They said the fostering process has changed dramatically over the years.

"We are very glad that there are now checks, policies and proper processes in place as well as improved support", Mr Atkinson said.

The couple receive regular training, including first aid and safeguarding, and keep up-to-date records to monitor and measure change in the children.

They also have a supervising social worker and say they feel "really well supported" in their role.

Mr Atkinson said: "On the whole fostering is a very rewarding experience. You get to know the young people; they become part of your family.

“There have been some serious lows. Three of those we have fostered are sadly no longer with us; one committed suicide, another was a mismanaged diabetic. The upside is that we have foster children who now have families of their own and we have been invited to christenings, weddings and other special occasions."

Mrs Atkinson added: "It’s nice to see the children come on. When they come to us they can be so angry about being placed into care, but eventually you get them to settle down, to see that there’s a different way of life and that being in care can be the best thing.

“The children have been let down many times so if we say we’ll do something to help them, we always aim to carry it through as keeping your promise helps to build up the trust. Doing a small thing such as giving them a set of house keys helps to build trust and they gain a sense of responsibility.”

The couple, who are retired from their careers working as civil servants, help to train new foster carers by sharing their experiences and giving advice.

Last year they become ambassadors for Foster with Bury, which involves helping to recruit new foster carers by attending community events throughout the borough to talk to members of the public who may be thinking of becoming foster carers themselves.

Mrs Atkinson said: “It’s all been a big learning experience, but we feel really supported by Foster With Bury. The training the team put together is brilliant.

“It’s hard to put into words why we do it. It’s about enabling the kids who come to us, who have all sorts of problems, to get as sorted as they can, just like we did with our own children. We can give them love and a stable home. It gives us all a sense of achievement.”

Foster with Bury recently presented the Atkinsons with a bouquet of flowers to thank them for their invaluable contribution to helping Bury’s looked-after children.

Cllr Tamoor Tariq, cabinet member for children and families at Bury Council, said: “Keith and Helen are an absolute inspiration to the Bury community. They have made such a difference to the lives of so many looked-after children in the borough and I want to thank them for all their years of dedicated service.”

For more information, or to begin the fostering process, call 0800 9555 311 or visit fosterwithbury.co.uk.