Cambridgeshire County Council is proudly participating in Foster Care Fortnight (11–24 May), the UK’s largest campaign to raise awareness of fostering.
To mark the occasion, a Cambridgeshire couple, Emma and Tim, who have cared for more than 70 children over the last 20 years, are sharing their story to encourage others to come forward.
The council is calling on residents to consider becoming foster carers and help make a meaningful difference to the lived experiences of children. Foster carers provide more than just a home – they offer stability, compassion, and a foundation for children and young people who have experienced disruption and trauma to take the first steps toward healing and hope in their lives.
Emma and Tim’s message is simple: small moments can change everything for a child.
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Their journey began unexpectedly – while doing some electrical work in a family home, Tim encountered a seriously ill toddler receiving end-of-life care with foster carers. The experience had a lasting impact.
“He came home and said, ‘I really want us to do this. I want to help children and make a difference,’” Emma recalls. “That moment changed everything for us.”
Since then, the couple have fostered 78 children of all ages – from babies to teenagers, to children that have arrived in crisis in the early hours of the morning.
Each young person who has come through their home has become part of their family, whether staying for a night or many years.
“Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and part of a family,” they say. “That’s why we continue to foster.”
Foster carers come from different backgrounds with varied life experiences and there are no special qualifications. They can be single, in a couple, heterosexual or LGBTQ+, with or without their own children, in their own home or renting, and from all age groups. What they share is a profound desire to make a difference and the ability to offer empathy, patience, and genuine care.
Cambridgeshire Fostering is passionately committed to ensuring that children can remain close to their communities, where they feel connected and supported.
Councillor Edna Murphy, Chair of the Children and Young People committee, said: “Foster Care Fortnight is an ideal opportunity for people to explore whether fostering could be right for them. We have an incredible community of foster carers, like Emma and Tim, who go above and beyond for the children they look after to give them the best start in life they can.
“Our foster carers are some of the most compassionate people in our community. But we always need more. Without local foster carers, children can face the added difficulty of being moved away from their familiar surroundings, including their schools, friends, and crucial support networks. If you’ve ever thought about fostering, I’d urge you to take that first step today.”
This year’s theme, ‘This is fostering in Cambridgeshire’, reminds us that it's the real, everyday stories of caring in a community that can make a lifelong difference in a child’s life.
If you’re considering starting your fostering journey, get in touch by visiting www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/fostering and emailing fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or calling 0800 052 0078.
The fostering team will also be out and about in the community at local information stands, where you can meet staff and foster carers, ask questions and pick up helpful resources – all in a relaxed and informal setting. Anyone can also join in the online information sessions.
Community locations and times:
Monday 11 May, 6.30pm to 7.30pm: Online information session
Saturday 16 May, 10am – 1pm: We will be at St Ives Community Day, St Ives Corn Exchange and The Free Church
Monday 18 May, 7.30pm – 8.30pm: In-person information session at the Lighthouse, Ely (The Lighthouse Centre, 13 Lynn Road, Ely, Cambridge CB7 4EG)
Friday 22 May, 12:30pm – 2:30pm: Celebration event for new foster carers, Christ’s College – Old Combination Room
For more details about these events and how to get involved, please visit Cambridgeshire Fostering’s website and social media channels – simply search for @cambsfostering or @CCCFosteringService.
Whether you’re curious about what fostering involves or ready to take the next step, our team is here to help.
