The ninth and penultimate episode of this Yorkshire Calendar series presented by Marylyn Webb and Richard Madeley that this week a look at fostering exploring what does it mean to those who are foster parents and what is it like to be fostered. Marylyn and Richard speak with several young people as well as foster parents about their experiences both good and bad. Title: Yorkshire Television Colour Production Calendar At Your Service As 15-year-old Stephen works to saw a piece of wood, in...

The ninth and penultimate episode of this Yorkshire Calendar series presented by Marylyn Webb and Richard Madeley that this week a look at fostering exploring what does it mean to those who are foster parents and what is it like to be fostered. Marylyn and Richard speak with several young people as well as foster parents about their experiences both good and bad. Title: Yorkshire Television Colour Production Calendar At Your Service As 15-year-old Stephen works to saw a piece of wood, in voiceover a woman reads an advertisement placed in the local press by the National Children’s Home in Harrogate looking for a foster family for him. He explains to Marylyn Webb the advantages of being part of a smaller family. Title: Be my Mum Credit: with Marylyn Webb and Richard Madeley Sitting behind a news deck Marylyn explains that although this advert was placed more than a year ago, so far there has been no response with Stephen remaining in care. According to the National Foster Care Association there are 20,000 other children like Stephen in care looking for a family. Statistics are provided as to the numbers is Yorkshire, Humberside and Lincolnshire who are in care with Marylyn explaining that this programme with focus on what it is like to be a foster mother, how to become one and what it is like to need a mum. Co-presenter Richard Madeley provides details with regards the various reasons why a child is in care before introducing Marylyn’s interview with Stephen who explains why after 15 years, he is still keen to find a family. Marylyn asks Stephen what he imagines a family to be like and what he believes they can do to help him. Returning to Richard in the studio he and Marylyn provide details on Board Out Allowances as well as other grants available to foster parents. Richard then speaks with Peter Blades Regional Director of the National Children’s Home who provides details on how someone becomes a foster parent and the background checks that need to be carried out as they have a responsibility for the protection of children in fostering. Marylyn introduces an interview she carried out with Edith and Clive Siegel who are foster parents in Leeds. They explain to Marylyn why they decided to become foster parents talking about the processes they went through to eventually foster 12-year-old Stuart. They provide details on what they think a child gets from being fostered and how Stuart was able to become part of the family. The interview ends with Marylyn asking how they would come to terms with the fact that Stuart may not be able to stay with them permanently. Back in the studio Marylyn provides details on why 1 in ten new foster parents drop out after the first year. Recognising the challenges the National Foster Care Association has set up training schemes for new or inexperienced foster parents and Maryln speaks with Beryl Dennison who runs one of these schemes in Leeds. She talks about the difficulties of fostering children that may have both a physical or mental health issues and the importance of taking into consideration the feelings of the natural parents. She also talks about the difficult in accepting that this child isn’t yours and that one day he or she may leave them. She also believes it is important to have the full support of the whole family not just the mother. After Richard explains that fostering can create problems for the foster child as well as the parents, he provides details on 11-year-old Shane who prefers living in the children’s home. After feeding the rabbits kept in cages in the garden at the back of the children’s home where he lives, Shane speaks with Marylyn about the problems he had recently with a foster family, why he is content to live in the children’s home and his hopes for the future and finding the right foster family for him. Back in the studio Richard speaks with Mrs Fiona Crosby who has been a foster mother for 12 years. She explains what can go wrong with placements and how it can take 3-4 years for a child to overcome some issues. She provides details on her experience of a failed placement after eight years and states what keeps her going is a belief that every child should have a home with people who are special to it. Across the studio Marylyn speaks with 16-year-old Beverley who has been in a foster placement for three years. She explains how these years have helped her and what it was like living in a children’s home which was very restrictive. Sitting across from Beverley is Jane Cooper her Social Worker who explains why she and other social workers work so hard to make sure foster placements work. She explains that since being with her foster family Beverley has gained confidence in herself and learned some of the skills for life that many people living in a traditional family take for granted. Bringing the programme to a close Richard provides names and contact details for organisations that can provide more information on become a foster parent and if it is right for you. Before providing details on next week’s edition on volunteering, Marylyn reads out a letter written to the programme by Mrs Irene Lindley of Leeds, a foster mother of 25 years who states that it isn’t easy for either side but the awards in human terms quite enormous. Title: Calendar At Your Service Credit: was presented by Marylyn Webb, Richard Madeley Production Team Petrina Rance, Fiona Greig Film Editor Gordon Hopps Director David St. David-Smith Producer David Lowen Editor Graham Ironside Title: Next week Calendar At Your Service… Lending a Hand End title: Yorkshire Television Colour Production. © Trident Television Ltd. MCMLXXX