Veronica and Allan -TACT Foster Carers since 2008
Scotland
Veronica works full time as a carer for a disabled adult, and Alan is the lead foster carer and gave up working as a baker to foster. They have three birth children and started fostering 8 years ago after their birth children had left home.
They decided to foster with TACT after seeing the charity’s ad in a local paper. On the subject of TACT’s support Allan said:” I am always able to get hold of TACT staff whenever I need them, and the foster carer training is first class. What I particularly like is that TACT really gets the foster carers involved and wants our feedback on everything.”
Their first (and current placement) Lauchlan, was also the first child to be fostered by TACT in Scotland. He joined them at 11 and at first it was a difficult time – it was his 6th placement, and he was an angry child, constantly fighting at school. However, when he agreed to be placed with the McCulloch’s permanently, his behaviour immediately improved.
Allan recently asked Lauchlan why his behaviour had suddenly changed for the better, and he said:” Once I knew I was staying with you permanently it meant I knew where I was going to be next Christmas, on my birthday and holidays. I knew I wasn’t going to be moved again, and that made me feel so much better.”
Lauchlan is now 18 and studying a HNC in engineering. Next year when he is 19, instead of being moved to supported housing by the local authority, he will move in to a house that the McCulloch’s own, and he will share it with their 24 year old birth daughter Emma who he gets on very well with. She and her older sister are both approved second TACT carers.
They have another placement, a 15 year old boy who has been with them since he was 12. He is mixed race and has experienced racist bullying at school. Allan fervently petitioned the school to deal with the problem, resulting in the school holding a special assembly on the wrongs of racial abuse.
On the subject of fostering older boys he said:” People think teenage boys are in care because they are no good, but I don’t know of any kid who is in care of their own doing.
And finally, Alan’s advice to new foster carers is: “There might be rough times along the way but the rewards can be so great. If you are child orientated then I fully recommend fostering.”
