A Fermanagh mum has spoken of the joy that fostering has brought to her life over the past year as it was this week revealed that the Western Health and Social Care Trust area currently has the highest number of children living in care (712).

Elaine Cassidy and her husband, Maurice, from Enniskillen, currently foster two teenagers as well as raising their two young daughters.

She said her mother - who provided respite care for children with disabilities - was part of the inspiration for a journey into fostering.

Mrs. Cassidy said: “Before we got married, we always both said it [fostering] was something that we would like to do.

"We were always aware that there are so many children who are disadvantaged, or who may have Social Services involved, or may not be able to live with their actual birth parents.

“When I was growing up, my mum used to do respite for children with disabilities, so I grew up with that during the summer holidays. I used to see the joy it brought us as children."

Mrs. Cassidy, a teacher at St. Joseph’s College, explained that she and her husband were approved to foster in April, 2023.

The journey started out almost immediately: “Between April and September, we did a lot of respite [care], as we said we wanted to do that initially before we did something long-term.

"We did a lot of sibling respite for carers who would be long-term carers, to give them a break.”

When asked why she fosters, Mrs. Cassidy said: “We enjoy the satisfaction of helping local children stay in their local community; the children we have now are able to attend school locally still.

"That’s why there is such a need in Fermanagh and Omagh for foster carers.”

She reflected on the figures that show the Western Trust region of Northern Ireland has the highest number of children in care, and emphasised the importance of children in care staying in their local area.

“If there’re not enough carers in the local area, it means children can be sent to Strabane or Derry, and they are not able to keep in touch with their local community.

“[Being fostered locally] means they are still close to the family, they can have contact with their birth parents, and their siblings.

"They are still within the local community, and attend their own schools,” explained Mrs. Cassidy.

She encouraged people in the area to consider fostering. “Get involved, there are so many open events on, go speak to the experts, the [Western] Trust have a huge campaign on at the moment.

"Go and enquire, look into it, don’t rule yourself out. Go out and learn about the process. You are offered fantastic training.

"We get so much enjoyment out of it; you can still work full-time, the Trust support you all way.

"You are matched with a child who will best suit your home life. There are so many children in our local community from all walks of life and all backgrounds that are going into care.

"You are not too old, and you are not too young to foster. Even if you have a young family, I think it is the perfect time to do so.”

Reflecting on what makes fostering special for the family, she said: “It brings so much opportunity and so much more fun. Our house is far better craic now with four children in it.”