Mendip Living Oct - Nov 2020
As the festive season approaches, we delve into preparing for guests, stocking the larder and getting cosy. Plus, retirement on your mind after lockdown? We look at the benefits of 'right-sizing'
As the festive season approaches, we delve into preparing for guests, stocking the larder and getting cosy. Plus, retirement on your mind after lockdown? We look at the benefits of 'right-sizing'
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
somerset's youngest<br />
foster carer<br />
Faced with the uncertainties of lockdown during a pandemic,<br />
there are not too many 21-year-olds who would think about taking<br />
on two young foster children. Ade Hill meets Rachel, who has done<br />
just that!<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
Congratulations on becoming Somerset’s youngest foster<br />
carer. How are you finding it?<br />
Thank you. Its all been a little strange to receive attention for<br />
being the youngest foster carer, I didn’t give it too much thought<br />
before! When lockdown happened and I needed to return<br />
home from University earlier than planned, it seemed the ideal<br />
opportunity to be able to do something positive. I heard that<br />
Somerset council were needing more foster carers during the<br />
pandemic and thought that maybe I could help. The assessment<br />
process and the need to answer lots of questions and provided<br />
references etc, was carefully done so that I could be sure that<br />
this was right for me and that it would be right for any children<br />
who might live with us. I have been looking after a one year old<br />
and two year old since May and really love it, they are wonderful<br />
children and although tricky at times, its been lots of fun for all<br />
of us.<br />
Growing up in a family that fostered, did this have an<br />
influence on you?<br />
Definitely, I love that we have been a fostering family all my life<br />
and I have really enjoyed living with so many different children.<br />
Sometimes they were babies and sometimes teenagers, so life<br />
was never dull! I have seen and been part of the difference that<br />
a caring fostering family can make and do think this had an<br />
influence. I know the difficulties that some children can face and<br />
have seen the impact of this, so feel that this led me to choose<br />
to study social work and also<br />
now to be a foster carer. It has<br />
not always been easy but it is<br />
really rewarding.<br />
What challenges did Covid<br />
present when you came forward, and now, in terms of<br />
fostering?<br />
At the beginning in the lockdown period there were no play<br />
parks or activities open and walks were limited to one a day<br />
which was tricky. It was necessary to come up with lots of<br />
creative ideas in the garden, we had jumping games, running,<br />
fun assault courses that kind of thing! Fortunately the little two<br />
year old loves inside play too and we do lots of painting, play<br />
dough and building brick towers ready to be knocked down<br />
again two minutes later!<br />
What do you find most rewarding?<br />
I love to see the children really enjoying themselves, so<br />
sometimes that’s jumping in a Peppa pig Muddy Puddle or<br />
watching the animals. Bedtimes are one of my favourite times<br />
as we get to be cosy on the sofa and read stories while the<br />
children have their milk and start to wind down. The little one<br />
year old loves any kind of singing so there are often lots of<br />
nursery rhymes and the real favourite ‘if you are happy and you<br />
know it…’
Change language