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Fostering for 30 Years: Couple Opens Homes to 60+ Children
27 May
Summary
- Couple fostered over 60 children across three decades.
- Hundreds of children in Cheshire need foster care support.
- A national shortage of foster carers has increased by 14% this year.
For three decades, Kerry and Graham Christopher have dedicated themselves to fostering, welcoming more than 60 children into their family. Their commitment has seen many former foster children thrive, achieving successful careers and stable family lives, sometimes breaking cycles of difficulty.
This heartwarming story emerges amid a significant drive in Cheshire to recruit more foster carers. The county has over 4,000 children in care but a shortage of approximately 3,000 registered foster carers. Nationally, the need is acute, with a 14% increase in foster carer shortages this year alone.
Experts emphasize that fostering is accessible to many, requiring little more than a spare room, stability, and the ability to offer love and support. The Christophers, whose own family history includes fostering, began their journey in 1996 after hearing an appeal on the radio. They encourage anyone with a spare room to contact fostering organizations for support.
