Jon is Head of IT and Facilities at The Fostering Network, bringing a unique blend of technological expertise and 17 years of experience as a foster carer. Here Jon talks about his own fostering journey and how it supports his role here at The Fostering Network.
“Fostering is the most valuable thing I’ve done with my life,” reflects Jon.
Jon and his wife, Ruth, have three children - two birth children and one adopted. Becoming parents brought them immense joy, and as their family grew, they realised they still had so much love and support to offer. This, paired with their strong Christian values, led them to open their home to children through fostering.
“Adoption and fostering is something that’s totally aligned with the Christian faith”, Jon explains. “They’re part and parcel of what it means to be human.”
They were approved to look after children aged 0-5 – a decision carefully made due to the ages of their birth children and Ruth’s skills as a primary school teacher. Their first child joined their family at three months old and quickly became a core part of the family. Two and a half years later the child left – a moment where the family learnt one of the “main costs of fostering.”
“It was a real wrench when he left, it hit really hard. That process of saying goodbye to a child that you’ve loved and cared for is a real bereavement.”
He adds: “We all found that extremely tough. But we carried on. That was the process we'd signed up for and it's something you just have to bear.”
But despite the pain they experienced, the family’s passion for foster care and the rewards that came with it motivated them to continue. Now, Jon and Ruth look back at fostering as one of their proudest achievements.
He says: “I've been in IT for over 25 years, it’s my profession, but actually the legacy that I think that I've got is when I look at the wall of photos of kids that have been through our home, the stories they have and the part we’ve played in those stories.”
They’re still in touch with the majority of the children they’ve cared for - the first boy, who went on to be adopted, is studying for his A-Levels. Two siblings, who also went on to adoption, remain a firm part of the family – they’ve been on holiday together and have regular vists.
“When children go on to adoptive families, it’s a privilege to be a part of that process. We were a small part of these children’s life story – especially children who have been handed such a poor start in life”, Jon says.
Although fostering has been a rewarding experience for Jon and his family, they have encountered many of the challenges faced by foster carers across the country. According to Jon, greater respect is the single most important change needed to improve the fostering system for carers and the children in their care.
“Foster carers need the recognition”, he says. “It’s not just not just monetary, although monetary is a factor, but it's also the respect. They need to have a greater voice in the care of children, which they don't have.
“They are often quite disrespected and disregarded, especially when it comes to arrangements like transitions. But the foster carer knows the child best and they need to be listened to better.”
Over almost two decades Jon and Ruth built a huge extended fostering family and a passion for fostering that has remained with them beyond the final child leaving their home. Jon brings this invaluable experience into his role here at The Fostering Network.
“What I really want to do at The Fostering Network is make sure we’re genuinely supporting foster carers in a way that feels useful and meaningful.
“In my role as Head of IT and Facilities, that means helping the organisation run smoothly and making the most of the data we have, so carers and fostering services get clear, up‑to‑date, practical information. At the end of the day, I’m focused on making sure our members feel supported and get real value from what we do, because foster carers deserve all the help and guidance we can give.”
Foster care for Jon and his family has been incredibly fulfilling alongside moments of real heartbreak. But Jon urges others to look beyond the potential challenges that fostering may bring and consider whether it’s something they can find room in their hearts and homes for.
Jon said: “My plea is that people do consider it and do come forward because there is nothing more valuable you can do with your life.
“There is a cost to fostering it. It is a costly life engagement. It costs you in your heart, it could cost you in your pocket, it costs you in your time, but somebody's got to pay that cost for these kids.”
