A lively home, muddy-puddle adventures and plenty of love to give: connected carers Patsy and Richard from Denbighshire share how welcoming a child into their family has changed their lives.
Patsy has always loved a busy home. With six children of her own and a grandson living with her, family life has long been filled with energy, laughter and the everyday juggling that comes with caring for children.
When she met Richard three years ago, their warm, bubbly personalities made them a perfect match and they soon began talking about fostering.
“We both love children and felt we had the time and space to give something back and support children who needed our help,” Patsy says.
an unexpected turn in their fostering journey
Patsy and Richard first contacted Foster Wales Denbighshire to become general foster carers. Within a few months of making their enquiry, however, their journey took an unexpected turn and they became connected carers.
A connected or kinship carer is a relative, friend or someone who has an existing relationship with a child and steps in to care for them when their parents are unable to do so. Although Patsy’s children are now adults, her household remained busy and lively, with her two children and grandson still living at home. The biggest adjustment was creating a new routine that worked for the whole family and the child now in their care.
adventure wednesdays and muddy puddles
One new tradition has quickly become a family favourite: Adventure Wednesday. Every week, Patsy and Richard head out with the little ones, sometimes joined by other family members too.
“We thought we were getting old, but we quickly realised the children had brought a new lease of life to us,” Patsy laughs. “We even love splashing in muddy puddles!”
The whole household has taken fostering in its stride. Patsy’s adult children who live elsewhere have also been wonderfully supportive, helping the family build a strong network around them.
watching confidence grow
For Patsy, the most rewarding part of connected care has been seeing the child they care for begin to feel safe and settled in their home.
“Her personality is developing, and she is becoming more confident and caring as she grows,” Patsy says.
She has also built a positive relationship with the child’s parents and spends time with them in the community. These moments help strengthen important relationships, providing a supportive network for the child and the adults who care for her. Looking back on her journey so far, Patsy has discovered qualities in herself that she had not fully recognised before: patience, calmness and the capacity to give even more time and love to children.
supported every step of the way
Patsy describes the support from her supervising social worker and Foster Wales Denbighshire as “fantastic”, with help and guidance available whenever the family has needed it.
Talking about her journey to becoming a connected carer Patsy says:
“The process was in-depth and intrusive, but necessary. Exactly what I would want if someone was going to look after my child. The end goal is totally worth it.”
In the future, Patsy and Richard hope they can continue supporting their local authority and offer stability and love to more children who need it.
could fostering be your next chapter?
“If you’re thinking about fostering but keep putting it off because you’re unsure, take that first step,” says Patsy. “I can honestly say it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s incredibly rewarding to know you’re making a real difference in a child’s life.”
If you have ever wondered whether fostering could be for you, now is the time to take that first step. You do not need to have all the answers, and making an enquiry does not commit you to anything. It simply starts with a conversation.
If you have the time, space and compassion to support a local child, Foster Wales Denbighshire would love to hear from you. Get in touch today for an informal chat with our friendly team and discover how you could make a lasting difference in a local child’s life.
If you live anywhere else in Wales, visit Foster Wales to find your local authority fostering team.
