“Everyone deserves a happy family”: why one Shropshire couple keep on fostering into their 70s

On the outside, the Oswestry home of Pat and Mavis Humby looks like any other on their street.  But over 100 children have called this house their home over the last four decades.

The Humbys are amongst Shropshire’s longest serving foster carers, and one of 107 foster carers in the county who provide a safe, caring and nurturing home environment for children in need.  It’s almost 40 years since the first child stepped over their threshold, and with nearly a ‘century’ of foster children under their belt, very little now fazes them. 

“We have had many children on short stays, here for just a few weeks or months until an adoptive home can be found, but equally we have had a number of children where it was best for all concerned that they stay the journey with us, and not leave until they could lead an independent life” says Mavis, “They became part of our family and still keep in regular touch.”

The Humbys are telling their story as part of Foster Care Fortnight, which takes place from this week until 29  May 2011. To celebrate the national campaign, Shropshire Council’s children’s placement service will be hosting an information and advisory event from 16 May to 27 May 2011 at the Darwin Centre, Shrewsbury, to encourage local residents to get behind fostering and support children in care.

Shropshire has one of the very best records in the country at finding suitable homes that will give a child or young person the very best start in life when there are problems within their own family.

Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member Councillor Ann Hartley said:

“Every child in Shropshire has the right to a secure and loving home and be given the best start in life.  Foster carers like the Humbys do a fantastic, rewarding job, and do so much to enrich the lives of children and young people; they are a real credit to our communities.”

Chris Dennison, head of the council’s children placement service, said:-

“We still urgently need around 30 carers throughout Shropshire, and while we never expect our carers to foster as long as Pat and Mavis, anyone – from any walk of life – who feels they have something to offer a child or young person should get in touch for more information.  We will provide plenty of training beforehand and lots of support after they begin – as well as financial support.”

Pat, like Mavis, is 70, and has now retired from his job in the payroll department at Severn Trent Water, which is just as well:

 “I’m not as young as I was,” says Mavis, “and where I used to do most of the work, it’s been really helpful since Pat retired – it means two of us can share the work of one!”

“If I had a chance I would do it all over again, it can be incredibly rewarding and we have many, many happy memories of the children who have come to stay – including all the holidays in our caravan over the years.  But it can sometimes be extremely hard work!”

The couple took on their very first child when their own boy and girl were aged three and four; and, says Mavis, both children treated having a flow of other children through their home, and having to share us with up to five others, as normal.

 “I suppose they never knew anything else.  But they are both very caring, practical, commonsense people and I expect this has played a part in that.”

The latest child in the Humbys’ care is a baby less than a year old who will soon be going on for adoption.

 “You do have to accept that they will not be with you for ever, and that finding a permanent home is the very best thing that can happen,” says Mavis. “But you are bound to get a little attached.

“All you can hope is that – for the time you have them – you’ve given them care and security, a firm foundation, and that this will stay with them.  We’re so proud of all the children who’ve been with us for what they’ve achieved and for who they are.”

A video on life as a carer, featuring other carers from around the county, is available to watch here on YouTube.

Take a look at the video and if you think you could offer a child a home, come and visit the children’s placement service at Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury during Foster Care Fortnight (16 -27 May 2011), or contact the team now on 0800 783 8798 anytime between 10 am and 4 pm (if out of hours, leave a message on our answerphone) – we would be delighted to hear from you.

Further information

Foster Care Fortnight is the UK’s biggest national campaign that aims to raise awareness of fostering and to recruit more foster carers.  This year’s theme, Fostering: a Time to Care, aims to encourage a diverse range of people with the right skills and qualities to foster to come forward to meet the needs of children in care.