A couple who have fostered over 30 children have described their experience as 'like running a small hotel' - but say they truly value being able to make a difference.
Over the course of nearly three decades, Jane Cook and Christopher Hall say they have ‘lost count’ of how many children they’ve taken into their homes. Each child they foster has unique needs, but all come to Jane and Christopher's home when they have no other options.
The couple from Sutton Coldfield, who have two biological children of their own, have been fostering in Birmingham since 1996 and consider it a 'way of life.' They are passionate advocates for young people and have nurtured children with a variety of complex needs by providing them with a loving home when they need it most.
Jane and Christopher at the British Empire Awards ceremony alongside some of their foster children (Birmingham Mail)Jane and Christopher were last week nominated for a British Empire Medal, an honour they describe as 'huge.' Despite the challenges that come with fostering, they say they 'couldn't imagine life without their foster kids.' Jane told Birmingham Live: "It's a full-time job, our children accompany us wherever we go. When we got married, seven of our children joined us on our honeymoon.
"Our lives revolve around the kids - it's all-consuming but they're all such great company. " Christopher added: " Kids come into care for all sorts of reasons, many come to us with a lot of trauma. Some kids we take in have had multiple placement and adoption breakdowns so we’re their last resort. Considering where they’ve come from, they’re all amazing young people.”
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Christopher and Jane's paths crossed over three decades ago at All Saints' Hospital in Winson Green, where they both served in the psychiatry unit. In 1996, the duo decided to dedicate their lives to foster care. "We used to accommodate many children with severe special needs or challenging behaviour," Jane said. "We've faced some truly challenging times over the years - there are moments when you contemplate giving up. However, I can't envision the children not being here."
"We've had some children threaten us and cause serious problems," Christopher added, "the good days are wonderful and the bad days are dreadful - but the good days outnumber the bad. We relish seeing them thrive and grow as individuals - it's never monotonous!"
At any given moment, Christopher and Jane provide care for between four to five foster children, ranging in age from five to 18. They look after some children for just a few months, while others have been permanently adopted. All their foster children have been encouraged to obtain qualifications, excel in school, and secure employment. The couple has cultivated a 'genuine family environment' and make an effort to maintain contact with all their foster children once they leave home.
"We all eat around the table together as one big family which is really important," Christopher said. "We love their company and they love ours. It's a very fulfilling thing to do - most of our children still live locally so we see them regularly." Jane said: "The best part is knowing you've made a difference. It also opens up new doors and challenges - our job is to make our kids independent, we're there for them when they need us most."
Alongside her parenting role, Jane is also Chair of Birmingham Children Fostering Association - of which Chris is also a committee member - working to improve the quality of support, practice and services provided to foster carers. The pair last week received a British Empire Medal for their services to foster care.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to webhomepage@mirror.co.uk
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