This Is Not Just Fostering…This Is Where Your Journey Begins
Annelies Davies, TACT’s Recruitment Manager
On why those first conversations are so important.
Most people who contact us haven’t made a firm decision. They’ve had a thought, sometimes for years, sometimes sparked by a conversation or something they’ve seen, and they’ve decided to ask the question – could this be something I could do?
Some will say it quite openly, “I’m not even sure this is for me yet. I just want to understand it a bit better.“
I want you to know that is exactly the right reason to get in touch!
The team behind that first conversation
I manage a team of Fostering Information Advisors, the people you speak to when you first reach out to TACT. And I’m genuinely proud of what they do! Their role isn’t to make quick judgements or move people through a process. It’s to slow things down. To listen carefully, ask the right questions, and create the kind of space where people can think things through honestly, without feeling pressured, or judged.
That first call or message might feel like a small step from the outside, but from where I sit, I know it isn’t. It takes something to pick up the phone when you’re not sure yet. And the people on my team understand that.
It’s not a checklist. It’s a conversation.
When you speak to one of our advisors, they’ll want to understand you, not just your circumstances, but what’s drawn you to fostering, what life looks like in your home, what support you have around you, and whether fostering could realistically work for you right now. Sometimes that conversation leads someone to feel confident and ready to take the next step. Sometimes it helps people identify a few things they want to think through first. And sometimes, it means being honest that the timing isn’t quite right yet.
Whatever the outcome, our aim is always the same, that you leave the conversation feeling clearer and supported.
There’s no single right starting point
No two fostering journeys look the same. Some people are ready to move forward straight away. Others need time, more information, or simply the reassurance that it’s okay not to have all the answers yet. Some will decide, ultimately, that fostering isn’t the right path for them, and that’s fine too! What matters is that every person who reaches out is treated with honesty, care, and respect, whatever they decide.
If you’re at that early stage of wondering, I’d encourage you to get in touch. You don’t need to have it all figured out. That’s what we’re here for!
