Holidays are all about the kids
10:30pm Monday 26th December 2011 in News
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THE traditional festivities of Christmas would not be the same for Carolyn and Declan Corr without their foster children.
For 16 years they have been welcoming children who need a place to stay into their home, and for many of those years they have been enjoying Christmas Day with them.
The children staying with the family at the moment arrived on Christmas Eve four years ago and have been with them ever since.
Carolyn, 50, said: “When they arrived their only concern was how will Santa know where to bring their presents? We had to go to the shops and think what boys that age would like. I took one of my
sons with me and we got Doctor Who things.
“The children just loved it, they absolutely loved everything they had. It is really nice because you know you’re making a difference and you can see by their faces it is all new to them.”
Children may be placed in foster care because their parents are ill, they have been neglected or their parents are struggling to cope.
Placements can be for one night or for several months before they are returned to their parents or considered for adoption.
Carolyn and Declan have four sons of their own, Michael, 28, Declan, 27, Nathan, 25, and Eamonn, 19. They also have an adopted son, Malachay, who came to them through fostering.
She said: “They all love it. My three eldest have got families of their own.
“Each of them have said to me that one day when their families are older they would like to foster.
“We all have Christmas together, we all welcome them in. There are usually 20 of us around the Christmas table and then, with the extended family in the evening, there are about 50 or 60 of us.
“We just have a lovely time and that is all new to the foster children as well – families being together. They love that, they really love it.”
The couple, who have nine grandchildren, started fostering for the respite home and away scheme for children with special needs 16 years ago after their daughter, Lorraine, who had special needs,
died from an eleptic seizure when she was 11 years old.
They still provide respite care and also take part in long-term and short-term fostering. Training and support is available to all foster carers and people who sign up are given an allowance.
Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer should call 01793 465700, email familyplacement@swindon. gov.uk or visit www.swindon.gov.uk.
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