{"id":243,"date":"2025-09-18T10:05:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T10:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.togethertrust.org.uk\/foster-together\/?page_id=243"},"modified":"2025-09-18T10:29:04","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T10:29:04","slug":"lee","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.togethertrust.org.uk\/foster-together\/stories\/lee","title":{"rendered":"Lee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Fostering spotlight:
Lee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Lee began his fostering journey with his husband, Lee, after seeing our adverts on Facebook. He shares how the journey has been for him so far.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When did you first think about becoming foster carers?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s something I\u2019d thought about for a while, then one day, I saw the Together Trust\u2019s Fostering advert on Facebook and enquired. Actually, I enquired before telling Lee! That was certainly some interesting news for him to get home to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all honesty, it was the kick we needed to go for it. We had wanted kids and fostering seemed like a great option for us as a couple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How many children have you fostered?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve looked after two children in total and have one with us at the moment. Both placements have been around the same age, so we\u2019ve had them living with us as they have moved from primary to secondary school.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Could you describe your experience of being foster carers?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

There have certainly been a lot of highs as well as some lows. It would be a lie to say there aren\u2019t challenges that you have to overcome, but there have been so many great memories created: whether that\u2019s trips out to theme parks or just the three of us getting on together at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The girl we have with us at the moment is at the age where she much prefers being in her room on the xBox rather than hanging out with us. That\u2019s no bad thing though, as long as she is happy living here with us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Have you received support from the Together Trust fostering team?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve had so much support from the Together Trust team over the last couple of years. When our first placement was getting challenging, Louise and Lisa from the Together Trust provided a lot of support for us, especially because Lee and I both work full-time. Whether it was getting in touch with an outreach worker or a call with one of them on the phone, it was a huge help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We became big friends with the duty number. We used to call regularly for help and advice and the fact that there was someone available even at 11 or 12 o\u2019clock at night was a massive reassurance, especially as we are both first-time carers. Everyone you talk to knows your situation and what\u2019s been happening; so the support really is tailored to us as a couple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What was the process of becoming foster carers like?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

After we first saw the advert and enquired, we had a chat with the Together Trust Fostering Team so they could find out more about us and why we were looking to foster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we applied it was during the Covid pandemic, so a lot of the process was done online. We showed the team around our house and the bedroom where the child would be staying, and basically just got across that we were suitable to be foster carers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You get put on a \u2018Skills to Foster\u2019 course and complete other bits of training, then there are a few stages that you have to pass. The whole process feels like a chat with a friend. It was never daunting and the people we spoke to all of us at ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why did you choose to foster for the Together Trust?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The fact that the Together Trust is a charity was a huge thing for us. We never considered any other agencies because we knew that, as a charity, the Together Trust puts the money back into the children they look after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The level of support they provided was a huge thing as well, along with all the training opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As new carers, we have taken any opportunity to do the training that the Together Trust provide and there have been lots of opportunities to learn. We want to do as much extra training as we can so that we can look after kids with more complex needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Have you had much contact with other foster carers?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

We meet other carers through the training sessions and support sessions on Zoom. There are usually two or three sessions a year where you can share experiences and tips. We were also matched with a foster buddy: a lady who had been fostering for 10 years and who we could get in touch with to ask for advice, which was great. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve also taken the girl who is with us at the moment on the fostering holiday, which was great fun and a chance to meet other carers and families. It\u2019s so beneficial meeting other foster carers to share advice and talk through any concerns you might have. There is always someone who has been through a similar situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How did the people around you (friends and family) react to you becoming foster carers?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Everyone has been supportive since we told them that we were thinking of becoming carers. They can see the difference that can be made to young people if they are in the right environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are certain things that you don\u2019t always think about or can take for granted. Both the children we’ve cared for had never used a self-check-out at the supermarket, for example, so it\u2019s great to be able to give them these life experiences so that everyday things start to become normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do you think there are still stigmas around LGBTQ+ couples and individuals becoming foster carers?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Honestly, this was something that really concerned me when we started fostering – whether there would be any reluctance from the children or their families because we are a gay couple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What helped us was being put in touch with another gay couple who had been fostering with the Together Trust for a while. We were able to have an open and honest chat with them and talk about any struggles they had experienced. It really put our minds at ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end, we haven\u2019t experienced any stigma at all, both children we have looked after have told us that the fact that we are gay doesn\u2019t matter to them and they have really embraced it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of gay couples and people have experienced hardship in life and built resilience, which I think is a great thing to pass on to the children we are caring for. We have experiences that can help young people if they have questions or need advice – it\u2019s a great feeling to be helping someone and setting them up for their life ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Would you recommend becoming a foster carer?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I would definitely recommend it! It\u2019s giving a child a chance that they may otherwise not be given. It\u2019s not always easy, and there are of course lots of ups and downs, but it\u2019s so rewarding when you can make a difference in a child\u2019s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Foster together<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With Foster Together, we\u2019ve worked hard to build a connected fostering family where staff, carers and families can support each other. In fact, our level of training, support and friendly community mean some of our foster carers have been with us for over 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about fostering below or make an enquiry and kickstart your fostering journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read more stories<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Make an enquiry<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
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Lee began his fostering journey with his husband, Lee, after seeing our adverts on Facebook. He shares how the journey has been for him so far. When did you first think about becoming foster carers? It\u2019s something I\u2019d thought about for a while, then one day, I saw the Together Trust\u2019s Fostering advert on Facebook […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":242,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-243","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nLee - Foster Together<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.togethertrust.org.uk\/foster-together\/stories\/lee\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Lee - Foster Together\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Lee began his fostering journey with his husband, Lee, after seeing our adverts on Facebook. 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