how a cuppa with a carer gave Nicola the confidence to foster

Fostering can feel like a big step and knowing where to start is often the hardest part. That is why we started Cuppa with a Carer in Flintshire.

It is simple, friendly, and informal. Anyone curious about fostering can meet one of our experienced carers for a relaxed one to one chat over a cuppa. There are no presentations and no pressure, just a chance to ask questions, hear honest experiences, and get a real sense of what fostering is like day to day.

for Nicola, having a cuppa with a carer was the moment that helped her move from thinking about fostering to believing she could actually do it.

“Before I went, I was really open-minded about meeting a foster carer, but there were definitely nerves as well. I was worried that my life experiences might impact my ability to foster. Speaking to someone who was already doing the role made such a difference, because they could explain the process properly and share real stories. It helped me see that I could actually be a great foster carer.”

meeting in a relaxed, informal setting helped Nicola feel comfortable straight away.

“Although all the professionals are really friendly, I really valued speaking to a foster carer as that first step. It felt much more relaxed and informal. I wasn’t going into an office, I could choose where we met, and it just created a really nice atmosphere where I could completely be myself.”

hearing about fostering in a real, honest way helped Nicola open up and start to challenge her own assumptions.

“We talked about normal life, and it was so relaxed and easy. That made me open up more and more. They really encouraged me to just say things as they were, and that helped me work through some of the ideas I’d had in my head about fostering. Things like being single or my age, I’d seen them as barriers, but actually I started to realise they weren’t stopping me at all. My life experience wasn’t something negative, it was something I could bring into fostering.”

after that first meeting, Nicola felt ready to take the next step. today, she is an approved foster carer, providing a safe and loving home for children in her local community.

“I honestly wish I’d done this years ago. Looking back now, I can see how much my life experiences have helped me become the foster carer I am. It’s been such a positive thing, opening your home and your heart to a child really does change your life.”

Nicola is now part of a mockingbird constellation, where foster carers support each other like an extended family.

“I’m part of a Mockingbird constellation and I couldn’t be happier. The support network is amazing, it really does feel like a family around you, and I think I would be lost without those people on my fostering journey. From the very beginning, everything felt clear and supportive, and that really started from my Cuppa with a Carer. That session made me feel comfortable and gave me the confidence to move forward. It set the tone for everything that came after.”

looking back, Nicola knows just how important that first conversation was.

“It was really refreshing to meet someone who is doing it day in and day out and could talk honestly about fostering, the ups and the downs. I think I was expecting something much more formal, but it just felt natural and comfortable. I could ask anything, and that made a huge difference.”

her message to anyone thinking about fostering is simple:

“If you’re thinking about it, I would definitely recommend starting with a Cuppa with a Carer. It gave me the confidence to move forward and helped me make those first connections before I even began my journey. It’s relaxed, it’s comfortable, and you feel listened to as well as being able to listen. I’d say follow that feeling and go for it, because fostering really can change your life.”

Charley, Marketing and Recruitment Officer for Foster Wales Flintshire, added:

“Cuppa with a Carer has been a real turning point. People get to sit down with a foster carer, hear their honest, everyday experiences, and that gives them the confidence to make an informed decision. I’ve watched them go from unsure to really excited, knowing they’re making the right choice for their future and their family.”

could fostering be your next chapter?

Sometimes the biggest decisions start with the smallest conversations. A Cuppa with a Carer could be the first step for you too, a relaxed way to meet someone who knows the journey and hear what fostering is really like.

Click here to book your Cuppa with a Carer.