Fostering isn’t defined by one big moment, says Katie Brougham, but by the gradual changes that happen when a child feels loved, supported and able to be themselves.
Whether it’s seeing a child light up at their first football session or watching their confidence grow as they begin to trust the adults around them, she believes it’s often these breakthroughs that mean the most.
As both a manager at North East Lincolnshire Council and a foster carer, Katie has seen first-hand the difference those moments can make, and why opening her home to a child has been one of the most rewarding decisions of her life.
She says fostering was something she felt drawn to for many years. Having worked with children throughout her career, including as a designated teacher for children in care, she had seen first-hand the difference that stability, support and encouragement can make in a young person’s life.
Combined with her own family’s connection to care, it was a journey that felt right for both her and partner, Darren.
“I felt like we were destined to do it,” she said. “If we can give any child the future they deserve, and the childhood that every child deserves, then that’s something really special.”
Since becoming foster carers, Katie says it is often the quieter moments that stay with her the longest.
One memory she cherishes is taking the young boy in her care to his first football session.
“Seeing how happy he was and watching him completely light up doing something he loved made everything worthwhile.”
Other milestones have been less obvious but equally meaningful.
“When he first came to us, he would wake up and stay in his room without letting anyone know he was awake. Then one day he knocked on our bedroom door. It sounds like such a small thing, but it showed he trusted us and knew his needs would be responded to.”
Alongside the rewards of fostering, Katie says the support she has received from North East Lincolnshire Council has played a huge role in helping her balance fostering with a busy professional career.
When she first began exploring fostering, senior leaders took the time to understand her plans and reassure her that she would be supported.
“My service director invited me for a coffee and told me how supportive she was of the process. That meant a lot,” she says.
She also credits her manager and colleagues with creating an environment where fostering is genuinely understood and valued.
“My line manager has been brilliant. When things change or a new child is moving in, she’ll check in and ask how things are going. It’s not about one big gesture. It’s about knowing people genuinely care.”
Katie believes that culture reflects North East Lincolnshire Council’s wider commitment to fostering.
“Fostering isn’t just a tokenistic gesture here. People really do live and breathe it. I’ve never felt that anyone saw me as perhaps less focused on my job because I’m a foster carer. People understand how important it is.”
For anyone considering fostering, Katie hopes her experience shows that it is possible to make a real difference to a child’s life, while continuing to work.
“If you’ve got the drive to do it, you’ll find a way to make it work. If you’ve got the spare room, the love and the capacity to care for somebody who really needs it, then fostering could be for you.”
Above all, Katie says fostering is about helping children feel safe, valued and loved.
“From the moment a child walks through your door, you want them to know they are wanted, loved and have people cheering them on.”
Ann-Marie Matson, Director of Children’s Services at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “Katie’s story is a wonderful reminder that fostering is often about the small, everyday moments that can have the biggest impact on a child’s life. Helping a child feel safe enough to knock on a bedroom door, try a new activity or simply be themselves can be life-changing. We’re incredibly grateful to foster carers like Katie and Darren, who open their hearts and homes to local children and provide the love, stability and encouragement they need to thrive. We urgently need more people to come forward and consider fostering, so that more children can stay close to the people, places and communities that matter most to them.”
Would you like to find out more about fostering for NEL?
Call: 01472 323966
E-mail: fosteringandadoption@nelincs.gov.uk
Website: https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/fostering
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