Being a foster family: best moments from 2020

"We enjoyed lots of things that we wouldn’t have done had lockdown not happened. The kids learnt how to fly a kite and row a boat, they went looking for crabs, exploring woods, playing board games, etc.

"We found we had more energy and it helped us spend more quality time together. Sometimes it’s good to go back to basics."

"We’ve actually loved our time during lockdown. Life is hectic, it made us slow down and spend more quality time together. We’ve done arts and crafts, sent cards to people, cosied up on the sofa and watched our favourite Disney movies. We’ve loved this time as a family.

"Since the beginning of lockdown, my young person has also completed all her GCSE’s and passed her driving test. For us the glass is half full, not empty."

One foster carer told us: "Being a single carer of two boys this year has had its own challenges. There have been times, especially around home schooling, that I could have screamed. But we got through it and continue to do so.

"The boys have adapted so well. The fantastic reports I get from their school and messages from teachers of their achievements - I could not be prouder. 2020 has taught us to keep laughing, to be positive and to continue to love and support one another."

Another one recalled: "Our girl (aged three) wanted to help raise money for her preschool. She scooted three times around an assault course in the school playground, raising an amazing £242!"

"We learnt more about our children in 11 weeks than we did in 11 months. Friday mornings we’d sit in the garden eating bacon sandwiches. Our foster children opened up about the things that they had experienced in their past. They shared things they liked or didn’t and why.

"There was one funny moment when we were sitting outside with our neighbours on V-day. They asked our boy: ‘How do you find living with your  foster mum?’ He replied: ‘I love her as a mum but not as a teacher. She is way stricter than my teachers. I’m ready to go back to school now – they’re less strict’. We all had a good laugh."

"Our foster child loved lockdown – she liked going on bike rides and being with us all day. There were lovely moments when she opened up about how happy she was to be part of our family.

"One day I was washing up in the kitchen. She walked over and wrapped her arms around me and said: ‘I’m so glad I met you and you're mine’. She’s done it about three times now. We were putting up a tent the other day. Again, she wrapped her arms around me and said: ‘I didn’t think I could be this happy, but I am’."

Another foster carer told us: "We once had a young person move on and it hadn’t ended well, I was always worried we hadn’t made a difference. She got back in touch and told me that she missed the family a lot.

"She said she would never forget her time with us and that we’d shown her what a real family was. It made her look forward to the future and having a family of her own one day. That was the highlight of my year."