Amanda and Dave have opened their home to children who needed care, stability and a place to belong.
Their journey shows how patience, openness and everyday care can make a lasting difference.
Amanda and Dave have been fostering for just over 14 years. What started as a simple love of having people around the house has grown into a home that has welcomed more than 30 children and young people of different ages, with different needs, and with very different stories.
They don’t describe fostering as “easy”. They describe it as real. Sometimes exhausting. Often joyful. And full of moments that show how far a child can come when they feel safe, cared for, and truly included.
Why they started fostering
Amanda and Dave always liked having a busy home. Before fostering, they’d already had people living with them, and fostering felt like a natural next step. “We always wanted people in the house… and then fostering seemed to be an extension of that.”
Over time, they’ve learned that being open matters. They originally thought they would foster teenagers, then their first placement was two-year-old twins. That set the tone for their whole fostering journey: expect the unexpected, and learn as you go.
If you’re considering fostering and want to understand the first steps, read more information on how to become a foster parent and what the fostering assessment involves.
A home for many different children
Across 14 years, Amanda and Dave have cared for children and young people across a wide range of ages and circumstances, including children with disabilities and additional needs, and parent and child placements.
They’ve found that what helps most is staying flexible and being ready to adapt. “It’s very unpredictable… you learn with every person that you have with you.”
Find out more about different fostering options, and parent and children fostering.
Supporting additional needs
One of the most important parts of Amanda and Dave’s story is the long-term care they’ve provided to a little boy with Down’s syndrome, who has been with them for over seven years.
Mandy is open about the fact that even with prior experience, you don’t automatically “know it all” and that’s okay. They’ve learned through day-to-day caring, reading, joining wider communities, and making use of support around them.
“I thought I knew some stuff… until we got him in our home, and realised there was a lot to learn.”
This comes through strongly in their approach, children aren’t problems to be fixed. They’re individuals who may need time, patience, routine, and understanding, and adults around them who are willing to keep learning.
Keeping family connections
Amanda and Dave also speak warmly about working with a child’s family when it supports the child’s wellbeing and identity. In their current situation, they’ve built a positive relationship with mum over time. They now arrange regular contact between themselves, which helps the child feel connected to where he comes from.
“It keeps his continuity. He knows where he’s from.” They describe it as an extended family approach, not always typical, but right for this child.
The difference is often in the small moments
When asked about making a difference, Dave describes something many foster carers will recognise: change often shows up quietly, in “micro moments”. He talks about seeing trust build slowly, a look, a smile, a spark in a child’s eyes that wasn’t there before.
Amanda shares one moment that stayed with her. A young person they were supporting had never been able to recognise when he was full. He would keep eating until he was unwell. Then one day, halfway through a slice of cake, he stopped and said he was full.
For most people, that would sound ordinary. For him, it was huge. It wasn’t just about food. It was about starting to notice what his body was telling him, and beginning to feel safer in himself.
Building positive memories
Some of Amanda and Dave’s favourite fostering moments are the “firsts” first holidays, first trips to the seaside, first walks in the woods. Experiences many of us take for granted, but which can mean everything to a child.
“Firsts are often the best, first holidays, first trips, first experiences.” They’ve taken children on holidays across the UK and abroad, including memorable motorhome trips where routine and familiarity helped children feel safe in new places. “It can be exhausting, but it’s also a lot of fun and those memories really matter.”
Support that makes fostering possible
Amanda and Dave say having the right support around them has been key. They value the training, access to advice, and knowing someone is always available when things happen unexpectedly.
“There’s always someone on the end of the phone. That makes a huge difference.”
They also appreciate having access to different professionals, from education specialists to out-of-hours support, which helps them feel confident in the care they provide.
“We’ve felt very supported. That’s made our journey easier.”
A life-changing way of living
Fostering hasn’t always been easy. Amanda is open about the tough days and moments of doubt, alongside the joy. “There have been times we’ve cried, and times we’ve wondered if we could carry on. But there’s also been so much joy.”
For Dave, fostering is more than a role. “It’s more than a job. It’s a way of life.” Together, they describe fostering as something that has changed them as people, widened their understanding of others, and created connections that often last long after placements end.
“We’ve learned to be open to people from all walks of life. That’s been one of the best things about fostering.”
Are you inspired by Amanda and Dave’s fostering story? To learn more about becoming a foster parent, call our enquiries team on 0808 304 2457, or fill in our online enquiry form, and we’ll send you all the information you need.
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