Foster supermum has no plans to stop as she approaches 70
AN inspirational super-mum says she won’t give up providing a safe place for children in need, despite being about to enter her eighth decade.
Highland Council’s oldest and longest-serving foster carer Grace Brian (69), from Culloden, has looked after an amazing 220 children over the past 39 years.
Undaunted even by the fact she did a large part of it while also bringing up her own two children, she said: "How can you not do it when you know you can provide children who really need it with a safe and happy home?"
Mrs Brian began fostering in 1979 when her daughter Alison was five years old and son Roy was three.
"Before that, though, I had been a nanny and then a childminder, so in a lot of ways fostering just seemed like the next obvious step," she said.
"I also grew up as one of seven brothers and sisters, so being in among a lot of children was completely natural – and children bring such joy into your life, it feels like every day you’re getting something good back."
Mrs Brian fosters mostly babies and young children under five.
On the most basic of counts, over the years she may have prepared as many as 14,000 dinners for her charges and done more than 16,000 loads of washing.
Her house, too, she says, is "like a battle-scarred toy shop" but, due to turn 70 in November, she is not ready to put her feet up yet.
"The children keep you young, I really believe that," she said.
"Due to the age of the ones I take care of, they are changing every day. Every day you see something new in them and it keeps your interest in things going."
She said the downside to her role is when it is time to say goodbye and that "there have been tears" but added: "In a lot of cases you know they are going back to families where things will be better for them now, or they are going on to new families."
As a perk of doing the job for so long, she does hear from those she has looked after. She said: "It’s always nice to hear when they are getting on well. It’s nice to know you helped them on the road, even if it was just a very little bit."
Daughter Alison calls her mum "truly inspirational" and thinks she is too modest about her achievements.
"I know there is one woman who told mum that staying with her was the best placement she had," she said.
"She’s had a real impact on a lot of lives."
Alison was so inspired she even got into fostering herself.
"I suppose I just grew up thinking of it as normal and also, from mum, that it’s right to do your bit," she said.
Mrs Brian added: "I wouldn’t change it – it’s all worth it."
Alison Gordon, resource manager for fostering and adoption at Highland Council, said: "Grace is always positive and she smiles when the children arrive at her home and she smiles when they leave.
"Grace loves children and helping them to settle when separated from their families; she is reliable and very committed to her fostering role.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank Grace for all the care she has provided and for her to know that she has changed the lives of many children and helped them on their journey."
Fostering facts
HIGHLAND Council currently has around 145 foster carers who provide a range of placement options including permanent, temporary or emergency care, or cover for holidays or respite – but more are needed.
Payments to foster carers are made on a sliding scale depending on the age of the child so, for example, someone fostering a teenager could receive £298 per week while someone looking after a child under four would get £211. Additional allowances are also paid for summer holidays, Christmas and birthdays.
Foster carers do not have to own their own home and do not need to be married. They can also be single or living with someone, including in a same-sex relationship. They can be from any ethnic background.
Training and support is provided.
For more information on fostering, contact 01463 702743 or email fostering@highland.gov.uk
