Why Pete Price hopes his podcast could change a child’s life this Christmas

Pete Price hopes the latest episode of his podcast could help change a child’s life this Christmas.

He has covered a wide range of subjects since he launched The Very Best of Pete Price, from an archive interview with music icon Tony Bennett to a new chat with Reds’ legend Jamie Carragher.

But it’s his latest, which focuses on fostering, which is particularly close to his heart.

Pete has spoken before about how he was adopted as a baby after his birth mother gave him up.

Being brought into a new family, and raised my his new mum Hilda May Price, altered the course of his life.

Now he hopes this podcast could do the same for other children who need a second chance to find a loving home.

“I could have been one of those children but I’m one of the lucky ones. I was adopted by the most wonderful woman in the world who was my life and did so much for me, that’s why I do so much for fostering.  

“Fostering doesn’t get nearly enough mention in the national media, and when it does it can get a bad press, but what foster carers do is fabulous and they’re really unsung heroes.

“There’s a desperate shortage of people fostering which is a major problem and has been for the 50 years I’ve talked about it on radio.

“I wanted this podcast to answer the questions people might have about fostering so if someone is considering it, or maybe even if they’ve never thought about it before, this could be what helps to make up their minds.

“It covers every aspect, it’s really informative, and I’m very proud of it.”

Pete liaised with fostering services in Liverpool to create the podcast and spoke to those directly involved including a long-term foster parent who has two children of his own, and another who fosters around her job as a teacher.

“There are so many more opportunities and ways to foster now, and more children who need it. I spoke to a schoolteacher who fosters in the school holidays so if short-term care is needed, maybe because a mother has had to go into hospital and there are no family members to look after her child, she will foster.”

Pete says the podcast also discusses who can now become a foster carer, as it’s open to all genders, races, religions and single people.

“I’d have fostered but years ago as a gay man you couldn’t do it,” he adds. “Now you can, and as a single person you can, but people don’t always realise that.”

Not only does the podcast discuss everything from being sensitive towards children’s birth background to what happens if a foster placement doesn’t work out, it explains simply how the process works.

“We are appealing to people to think about fostering, but if you go to talk to the fostering services you can go back in a year, or two years, they don’t put any pressure on you.

“It’s not easy, not at all, but for a child having that love is so important.

“I know from my own experience the big difference having that stability and love can make.  That’s what puts fostering at the top of the tree for me, the stability that’s given for however long it’s needed gives children a grounding to realise they can have a future and it can change the course of their lives.

“I wanted to do this podcast and say, what a great Christmas present it would be if we could help find a child a home.”

You can listen to The Very Best of Pete Price Podcast HERE. For the latest news in Liverpool click HERE.