I've really enjoyed the last 7 years of fostering. The experience has been really enjoyable but it can have challenges along the way. But the majority of it has been great it has really opened my eyes on different aspects on peoples life's and how great it is to support the foster kids. Due to fostering i chose to study community youth and development in college to help troubled kids that need help.

Since my family started fostering with Five Rivers 2 & 1/2 years ago, it has become a very big, but normal part of my everyday life. I feel good that my family foster because it makes me feel like a better person helping others less fortunate than us, it has also brought me closer to my family. Since we started fostering, we have had lots of children from different backgrounds come to stay with us, some have stayed with us for a short time, others for longer and some children come to stay with us regularly on respite.

I am 12 years old, I love hurling and soccer.When my mom and dad first told me about fostering, Was very excited but also very nervous but all my questions were answered from five rivers and my parents.Since we started fostering we have had many children come and go through the emergency placement service and we also have a child who has been with us for the last year. I have made many great friends through fostering, learnt so much and has made me realize how lucky I am to be in a safe and loving home and to be able to help these kids who are not as fortunate as me.

Before starting out as a family that fosters my brothers and I all had a similar idea of what it would be like, we all thought that we would be extending our family and my brothers and I were excited to do so. We have gained some truly positives experiences that could only be acquired through fostering, such as being able to discuss life experiences with children and young adults from many walks of life and having our eyes truly opened to how lucky we are to have the family we do and how proud we should be of our parents for wanting to open our family up to those who are not as fortunate as we are.

We joined Five Rivers Ireland approximately 2½ years ago after long consultations with them regarding our suitability and viability. We initially entered in to the ‘emergency...

I found the assessment very thorough but my assessing social worker told me it would be! I found that a lot of questions were asked and at the time I did not know why...

I’ve been a foster carer with Five Rivers Ireland for five years. During this time we’ve had many children stay with us, both long and short term. It’s hard to describe the feeling...

When we first started our journey with Five Rivers Ireland, little did we know the wonderful family we were about to gain, with all the fun and acceptance which that entails...

Bringing children in to your home, helping them and seeing them change in front of your eyes is so rewarding! Knowing that what you do is helping the children and their families...

Our initial assessment and training took place over a six month period and involved regular meetings with our link social worker from Five Rivers Ireland...