Lindsy and Tom were approved as foster carers for Torfaen County Borough Council in March 2026 and welcomed their first foster placement in April 2026. We caught up with Lindsy to hear about her experiences during her first few months of fostering.
Lindsy and Tom first considered fostering when their own children had grown up and become more independent.
“We missed having children around and being able to do child-focused activities. After speaking with some foster carers, we decided to take the first step.”
Reflecting on the assessment process, Lindsy described it as thorough but supportive.
“The assessment process was straightforward and we were able to build a really good relationship with our assessor, Tracy. When we were approved, Tracy became our supervising social worker, which was great because she already knew us well and understood the skills and experience we could offer. The assessment was, at times, intrusive but it needed to be comprehensive to make sure we were the right people for fostering.”
Before being approved, Lindsy admits she had very different expectations of what fostering would be like.
“Initially, we wanted to foster a baby or a child under five but this wasn’t possible because I vape. I assumed that fostering an older child would involve a long adjustment period and lots of behavioural difficulties before they settled in. In reality, we were matched with a six-year-old who fitted straight into our family. It’s as though she has always been with us.
“There have been some behavioural challenges but you get out of fostering what you put into it. If you respond to challenges with patience and calmness, that is what the child learns and begins to reflect.”
Fostering has also had a positive impact on their wider family.
“As a family, we have gained so much more from fostering than I ever expected. We were at a stage in our lives where our own children were off doing their own things but fostering has brought us all back together. We spend more time together, enjoy family meals and go on day trips. Even our wider family have embraced fostering and love spending time with our little one.”
One concern Lindsy had before becoming a foster carer was the level of professional involvement.
“I expected to have social workers in my house all the time but that hasn’t been the case at all. There is always somebody at the end of the phone if I need support, and Tracy is fantastic. She always gets back to me if I need advice.”
Lindsy also valued the opportunity to build a relationship with the child before the placement began.
“We were able to meet the child before she moved in with us. We first met through a video call, then had a visit to a farm together, a home visit, a trip to a play centre and I was able to watch her at a dance class. This helped us get to know each other before the move and made the settling-in process much easier.”
When asked about the highlights of fostering so far, Lindsy had plenty of positives to share.
“The affection we receive from the child is heartwarming and we have so much fun and laughter together. The support from the fostering team, especially Tracy, has been amazing and they are always there when we need them. I’ve also made new friends through the school run and met lots of other foster carers.”
While fostering has been rewarding, Lindsy is honest about some of the challenges.
“There have been some behavioural difficulties but there is usually a reason behind them. Often, it’s linked to excitement or difficulties managing emotions. Sometimes it can be challenging balancing everyone’s needs, particularly because there is a large age gap between the child and my youngest daughter, who still needs her mum to be available for her. However, we work through this together and make sure everyone’s needs are met.”
For anyone considering becoming a foster carer, Lindsy’s advice is simple:
“Do it! It is absolutely worth it. Fostering is fun, rewarding and can make a real difference to a child’s life. If you’re thinking about it, go for it!”
If you are able to offer a home or short breaks to a child, contact us to find out more – https://torfaen.fosterwales.gov.wales/contact-us/
