Growing up in a fostering household can be a rewarding experience – but it can also bring challenges, especially for the children already living in the home. Children of Foster Carers Week (13-19 October) is a national campaign that recognises and celebrates the vital role these young people play in fostering families. It’s also a chance to highlight the support that helps them navigate the unique experiences that come with fostering.
Megan, a birth child in a fostering family in South Gloucestershire, received support from the council’s WAYPOINT team to help her adjust to life in a fostering household and manage her anxiety. Now a published poet, she shares her experiences and how this support helped her find a creative outlet through poetry.
Megan was 11 when her family began fostering. Over the years, they welcomed around 20 children into their home. While Megan enjoyed being part of a fostering family, the changes at home and the emotional impact of placements ending unexpectedly sometimes left her feeling anxious and overwhelmed. That’s when she began working with Charlotte, a Support Worker in the WAYPOINT team. Charlotte supported Megan over several years, helping her understand her anxiety, adjust to changes at home, and find ways to manage how she was feeling.
“Charlotte really helped me understand what I was going through,” Megan says. “She was someone I could talk to who just got it. I don’t think I’d have found my way into writing without her support.”
Through that support, Megan discovered poetry as a way to express herself and process her emotions. What started as a way to get her thoughts down on paper during college turned into something bigger – this summer, Megan published her first poetry collection, Pieces of Me, and she’s now working on a second.
Now studying music production at university in Liverpool, Megan continues to write and hopes to publish more work in the future. “I’ve always wanted to write a book. Now I’ve done it, I want to keep going.”
Councillor Simon Johnson, cabinet member with responsibility for children and young people at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Megan’s story is just one example of the many children of foster carers who quietly make a difference every day. Children of Foster Carers Week is about recognising their experiences, listening to their voices, and making sure they feel supported too.
“If you want to find out more about fostering in South Gloucestershire please visit our website https://fostersouthglos.org.uk. Local authority foster carers receive comprehensive training, substantial financial support, a dedicated social worker, an out-of-hours phone line and peer mentoring.”
