Gran on mission to sign up people for fostering
CARING FOR KIDS GIVES LIVE A PURPOSE, SAYS STELLA
A GRANDMOTHER is on a mission to get more people to become foster carers.
Growing up as the oldest of 10 children meant that 52-year-old Mancunian Stella O’Donnell had a head-start over most when she first decided to become a foster carer.
She had been surrounded by children all her life, and grew up – as oldest children often do – helping her mum and dad look after her six sisters and three brothers.
With all that experience under her belt she always knew that looking after children was something she was good at and wanted to do.
She said: “I come from a massive family and as the oldest I’ve always looked after children. I’d always wanted to become a foster carer so as soon as my son was older and coming to the end of school I decided to look into it.
“I just really wanted to help as many children as I could – give them a little window of stability and care to help build their confidence and self-esteem, and help them to move on in their lives.”
Stella lives alone now her grown-up son has left home and has been fostering for nearly 14 years. She says she doesn’t regret her decision to become a foster carer at all – in fact, having always been around children, it’s what she lives for.
She said: “I love it. It literally gives me a purpose to get up in the morning. I sometimes think I need the children as much as they need me. Fostering just makes life a much better place.
“I love being around children and helping them develop. I’m immensely proud of the children I look after and tell them all the time how proud I am.”
Stella has cared for 30 children during her time as a foster carer, including looking after very young babies and also older siblings. She has also worked as part of a special team of foster carers with children who need extra support and targeted help to get them through a difficult time in their lives.
She feels strongly that everyone should consider fostering to see if they too can make a difference to a child or young person in need.
With one son, a grandaughter, and 38 nieces and nephews courtesy of her nine siblings, life in the O’Donnell family is never dull, and Stella has high hopes that some of her own young relatives may follow in her footsteps and also become foster carers when they are older.
She said: “My granddaughter is only eight but she is already amazing with the children I look after and always wants to get involved and help. Fostering brings so much to your life, it has really enriched mine. Everyone should think about doing it if they can, to give something back. It’s so worthwhile.”
To find out more about fostering visit manchester.gov.uk/ fostering or call Manchester City Council’s fostering team on 0800 988 8931.