Jenny Manktelow

A MOTHER has encouraged people who have “a spare room and space in their hearts” to become a foster carer.

Jenny Manktelow, 44, and her husband were approved as foster carers for the council and she said she is looking forward to her family becoming four people this June.

As part of Foster Care Fortnight, Ms Manktelow has shared why she wants to get involved.

She told the New Journal: “Me and my partner had discussed it a couple of years after having our son. I was 32 when I had my son, then life got busy. I was about 35/36 and we had a conversation about having a bigger family.

“I said it was something I always wanted to do, then Covid hit, and it all kind of got put on the back burner.”

Her husband, who works at Camden Council, saw a flyer about fostering and they decided to take the plunge.

She explained that wanting to give a young person a better start in life was what motivated their decision.

Ms Manktelow said: “Just for the intrigue of getting to know a new little person and watching them grow. Watching my son transform from a baby into a young man, seeing his character grow and his own version of himself appear is fascinating. Getting to do that again, to watch them blossom into a beautiful human, will be really rewarding. And just to create solid memories of love and care to take with them because they’ve not had that yet.”

She added: “I’ve got one or two friends who have been in the system, one was fostered, the other was adopted. I know first hand what having good foster parents means. I’ve witnessed how bad it can be for some of them even if they’ve had a good foster family.”

She emphasised the importance of patience when raising children, particularly when fostering.

“When it comes to a foster child, they’re probably not coming from a great start,” she said.

“They might have behavioural or emotional issues, so patience is key so, if you can, go at their pace.

“You can’t feel their pain or what they’ve gone through but to try and understand how they’re feeling or why they are behaving that way.

“Our plan is any child that comes into our care will be with us until they are 18 but when they turn 18 they will not be kicked out and be on their own.”

She encouraged more people to consider becoming a foster carer.

Ms Manktelow said: “I would say if they’ve got a spare bedroom and room in their heart to create a safe and loving environment for someone else then give it a go. Just as much as you’re taking a risk, these kids are taking a chance on you too. If you’ve got that capability and inkling to go for it then go for it.”

Councillor Marcus Boyland, cabinet member for Best Start for Children and Families, said: “Fostering is a truly life-changing experience, not only for the children who find a loving home but also for the foster families themselves.

It’s an incredible opportunity to make a tangible difference in a young person’s life, helping them to thrive and reach their full potential.

“Here in Camden, we are committed to providing our foster carers with exceptional support, including comprehensive financial assistance, dedicated professional guidance, and practical benefits. We welcome people from all backgrounds, especially diverse and global majority families, to get in touch and discover how they can become part of our vital fostering community.”