St Helens mum is taking part in Step for Change to encourage more to care for vulnerable children

Mum-of-two Jo Stapley has only been a foster carer for a year – but in those 12 months she’s already seen the difference it can make to the life of a child.

“I’m currently looking after a brother and sister and they are already totally different to how they were when they came to us,” she says.

“They are the most amazing children you could meet and it’s great to see them smiling again. That is hugely rewarding.”

Jo, a 48-year-old former support worker from St Helens, is taking part in the town’s Step for Change Challenge.

The challenge is part of Foster Care Fortnight which runs from May 12-25 and aims to shine a spotlight on the incredible work of foster carers and the urgent need for more people to step forward and support vulnerable children.

As part of Step for Change, people are being asked to complete 442km (approx. 274 miles) with each kilometre representing the 442 children and young people currently in the council’s care.

Jo adds:

“It’s just too many. And it’s just so sad.”

Participants can choose to walk, run, cycle, or swim their way through the distance, either solo or as part of a group, over or on any date within the two-week period.

Jo will take part in a walk in Taylor Park in St Helens tomorrow with more than 30 other foster carers and the young people they care for.

“The hope is that we can raise awareness and hopefully get people to come forward and offer to foster, as well as raise money for Become, the national charity that supports children in care and young care leavers.

“We’ll do a few laps of Taylor Park and then have a nice picnic afterwards.”

Jo became a foster carer with accounts husband Jon, 50, after their eldest son Ellis had grown up – he got married last week – and youngest son Ethan, 16, had become more settled.

“I have always wanted to foster but Ethan had special educational needs throughout school and I wouldn’t have been able to give a child the care they needed because of his problems,” she explains.

“He’s settled now, and we moved into a house that had an extra room, and so it meant that we could finally put ourselves forward.

“I had such a happy childhood and the memories I have of growing up are beautiful and, having worked in the care system anyway, I believe that all children should experience a loving, safe family home … but there are so many children who don’t.”

It took around seven months for Jo and Jon to go through the process of being approved as foster carers, due to the vetting and interviewing needed to make sure they were right for such a vital role.

It took longer because they had lived abroad for a period of time but there was, continues Jo, support throughout that process, and now.

And it’s all been worth it.

“The children we care for now are a brother and sister whose mum sadly wasn’t well enough to look after them.  When they arrived with us they fitted into the family straight away, but the little girl was withdrawn and quiet and ate hardly anything; and the little boy had daily meltdowns.

“Within six weeks the little boy was lovely and calm and we found strategies to work through the meltdowns, and the little girl is now sleeping through and dry, and happily eating.

“She had an unhealthy fear of men – but now she and my husband have got a lovely bond.

“I always wanted a big family but we only had two children with 10 years in between, so now I have got little ones running around the house again and I love it. I’m so happy.

“I love children – and I want to make them happy. 

“There are 442 children in St Helens who need care and only 178 registered foster carers, so St Helens is really struggling.

“I just hope people see us, or read about the Step for Change Challenge, and think about whether it’s something they can do too.”

Donate to Foster4 St Helens’ Step for Change Challenge here.

Find out more about becoming a foster carer in St Helens here or call 0345646009, or email Enquiry@foster4.co.uk.

Find all the latest St Helens news here.

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