"When I found out I was going into foster care I thought, wow, just like Home and Away. When I got there, I couldn't sleep at night because I thought someone would come into my room and murder me. But now it's great - I feel like I'm part of a family."

 

 

"Me and my sister see Mum once a week. We like it here with our foster carers, but we can’t wait till we can go home again. At first I was worried about what would happen to us. But I sit down and talk about it with Alan and Jane my foster carers and with Julie my social worker and they explain what’s happening with Mum and everything."

 

"I don't remember ever living with our mum. Our last foster carers helped us keep life-story books to help us remember. We went into foster care when I was 4 and my brother Mark was 2. I'm 14 now. In ten years we've had a few different homes, but we've always stayed together."

 

 

"The worst thing about being in foster care is that people think it must be my fault. They think that I must have done something wrong or that there’s something wrong with me."

 

 

Dear Sue and Pete,

Thank you for looking after me and my brother. I am sending you a picture I drew of when you took us to the zoo and made us laugh. We are back with mummy now and very happy. We will always remember you.

Love from Zoe (8) and Chris (6) xxx

 

"When my Mam ran away my Dad was drunk in the house. Someone must have phoned the police because the police broke in and took me and my brother away."

 

 

"When I was little everybody bullied me. I used to think I was really thin and horrible. I was scared at first coming into foster care, but my foster mother made me feel at home. At the weekend she took me into town and helped me to try fashions and get my hair done. I'm healthy now. I enjoy school. I've got new friends and nobody bullies me."