We're kicking off our fostering appeal this week to try and encourage more people in 撸sir视频 and Bute to come forward and be assessed to become foster carers. Moyra Paterson and her husband Peter both have full-time jobs and have been foster carers for six years now.
We caught up with the couple to find out all about it.....
The couple first enquired about foster caring when a child they knew was taken into care and they felt helpless.
Moyra said: 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 do anything to help at the time but I knew we had to do something to help other young people facing a similar outcome.
鈥淲e contacted the council鈥檚 fostering team to find out a bit more information and six years later we鈥檝e looked after 13 young people to date.鈥
With five grown up children between them, and the couple both working full-time, it鈥檚 not been easy but they鈥檝e managed to juggle childcare and work commitments to make it work.
鈥淚t can be challenging at times but it鈥檚 definitely worth it - it鈥檚 so rewarding,鈥 Moyra said.
The couple work as temporary, interim and short break carers and look after young people aged between 2 and 12 years old.
鈥淲e treat them like our own children so it can be difficult when they have to leave because you can get very attached,鈥 she said. 鈥淎t the same time though it鈥檚 great to see them moving on to a positive outcome, whether it鈥檚 back to their parents or to new adoptive parents. It鈥檚 a mix of emotions.鈥
Moyra鈥檚 youngest daughter is 20 now, but she was just 14 when the couple began fostering. 鈥淪he loves it,鈥 says Moyra. 鈥淪he is a great help, especially with the younger children, and wants to foster care herself when she鈥檚 older. Don鈥檛 get me wrong, it is hard work but it鈥檚 so rewarding and we receive great support.鈥
To find out more about foster caring and how you can help, visit: www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/fostering