FOSTER families across the North-East are speaking up about their experiences following National Care Leavers’ Week last week.

Josh Jennison lives with foster carers Gordon, 70, and Marylin Turner, 67, in Middlesbrough. The 18-year-old has, with his younger sister, spent more than 11 years in the care system and hopes to encourage others to open their homes to children in need.

Mr Jennison, who turned 18 in July, has been living with his foster family in Acklam since he was eight-years-old.

Although legally allowed leave the care system and live independently, he decided to stay until he is 21.

The media and game design student at Stockton Riverside College, who hopes to go to Teesside University next year, said: “No one wants to have to go into care, all I’ve ever wanted is to be considered normal and have a normal life.

“Throughout school and growing up, people would naturally treat me differently because they know I’m in care. G and Maz (Gordon and Marilyn) have never done that, they’ve taught me what it means to have a kind family and have been there to support me every step of the way.

“I didn’t always get on that well at school, but I wasn’t punished for it, they’ve just helped me work out what’s best for me.

“Now I’m studying something I enjoy and I can work hard at it, I never thought I’d end up going to university but that’s now the plan.”

The Northern Echo:

The latest Government data reveals, as of March 31 2019, there were 78,150 children in care in England.

Around 12,500 children leave the care system each year, becoming ‘care leavers’ when they turn 18.

Although still in care, Mr Jennison is given an allowance from the local authority as he would if he was living independently, which contributes towards his living costs with the family.

The 18-year-old hopes to save up for a house somewhere in Teesside.

Mr Turner, who gave up work to help split the fostering full-time with his wife and currently foster through Five Rivers Child Care, remembers the first day the siblings arrived.

The Northern Echo:

He said: “The little one was just four, she wasn’t able to talk properly, and Josh was quiet, they were both shy. I remember from very early on, the only thing Josh ever asked for was a passport because other people were allowed to go on holiday but they weren’t because they didn’t have one.

“We just do the normal things that we did with our own children.

“I’m so proud of Josh and his plans going forward, he’s a great young man.”

Northumberland carers Denise and Paul Nichol, both 55, waved goodbye to their foster son earlier this year but says “there will always be a place for him in the family home”.

The 18-year-old left the North-East to join the army after struggling with the pressures of school and college.

The Northern Echo:

Mrs Nichol, who began fostering in 2010 with The Fostering Company, said: “We’ve told him we’ll always be here for him; he knows that his room and all his things will still be here and we’ll always keep in regular contact with him.

“He’s part of the family, and although he’s began his working life and is training away from home, we look at like he’s got his foot in both camps.”

A range of people can become foster carers, including single people, co-habiting couples, same sex couples and people living in rented accommodation.