WATCH: Jersey family celebrates 20 years of fostering

Tuesday 19 June 2018

A Jersey family is celebrating 20 years of fostering, having looked after close to 50 children over that period.

The Young family is made up of Jeanette (58), Glyn (60) and their three daughters, Aythya (24), Mairi (22) and Salili (14).

Jeanette and Glyn met at Edinburgh Zoo while they were working with the primates, and the bird section, respectively. Originally from Scotland and the south of England, the couple moved to Jersey in the 1980's and worked at Jersey Zoo. While Jeanette stopped working when the couple's daughters were born, Glyn went on to become the Head of the Bird Department.

For them, fostering came naturally. "My parents fostered for a short time," explains Jeanette. "They even adopted one of the children and I have an adoptive sister. Glyn's family didn't foster, apart from his grandmother, but they were very socially minded."

Video: "No two days are ever the same," Glyn says. 

The first time the family fostered, the couple's daughters were only toddlers, but everything well. "They didn't know anything else," says Jeanette. "They were very important in the process. They had live-in playmates and they were so good the whole time. I don't know if it is in their nature to be tolerant, maybe that's why we became foster carers, but they had to share their parents and never said anything about it. They are amazing ambassadors for foster care."

Over the years, the family has welcomed children of all ages. Some were with them for only a couple of days, but others stayed for a few weeks, months or even years. For the past five years, the couple has been looking after two girls on a "long term placement." "They are with us until they don't want to be or until they are independent," explains Jeanette.

After 20 years fostering, the couple is not looking to stop anytime soon. Glyn says: "It's been very nice to see the reaction of the children that are with us. It's not always been positive perhaps, not always been perfect but certainly what it is is brilliant."

Jeanette adds: "You get back seeing a child flourish. I really like children to achieve their potential, I think it's a crime if a child doesn't have the chance to achieve what they are capable of. To see develop trust in adults is the biggest reward because from trust you can then have fulfillment and expand. If you don't trust the world you can't go out there and do what you are capable of."

Pictured: Jeanette and Glyn's daughters have always been happy sharing their parents with other children.

With the Fostering and Adoption Team always on the look out for more families to join their ranks, Jeanette would like to convince anyone who is thinking about the idea of fostering to make the first step. "There are so many children in need, people are always surprised," she says. "There is a lot to get out it, that is why we do it! If you have an inkling that you want to do it, I would say it is a very good sign. There must be something there that would make you a good foster carer, if you even thought about it.

"It is different for everyone and we all have individual journeys but you are able to show a child another way of life. You give them a bit more stability and consistency. Simple things like sitting around the table or going out for an activity, which some have never done. You are able to show them that Jersey is much bigger and therefore change their outlook."

Anyone interested in changing a child’s life is encouraged to reach out to the foster care recruitment line on 443970.