"Fostering is extremely fulfilling"- Kanwal and Umer
Prepared by one of our Student Social Workers, Deborah Parry
Kanwal and Umer began fostering a few years back. At the time, the couple had one child of their own and really wanted to help other children who were in need of a caring and supportive home. After advice from family and friends, they decided to become foster carers and have since found the experience extremely fulfilling.
Kanwal and Umer have looked after a number of different children and have experienced the highs and the lows of fostering. "The most challenging aspect is the start of the placement, much effort is required to settle the child" states Kanwal.
As the main carer, Kanwal is supported by her husband, Umer. The couple are fully committed to every child placed, an example of this is when they were instrumental in reuniting an asylum seeker from Pakistan with his family. Both Kanwal and Umer worked tirelessly with the relevant authorities and travelled with the young boy to help happily reunite him with his family. Although they miss him terribly, they are so happy that they were able to secure such a positive outcome.
The couple are currently caring for a girl who has been with them for a number of years and is very much part of the family. She joins in with all the family holidays and is treated as one of the family by the extended family members. She has recently achieved excellent GCSE results and has since secured permanent employment in the city centre. Soon she will be moving onto independent living, but she is hoping to get a flat near to Kanwal and Umer so she can come home for her meals!
