Celebrations for Father’s Day took place across the country last weekend with paternal figures being honoured throughout the day.

Father’s Day is the one day each year that is dedicated to saying a big thank you to the male figures in every family, whether it’s dads, uncles, granddads, cousins or friends.

Male foster carers were no exception and many were pampered and spoiled on their special day as their families showed how much they mean to them.

In the second of our Fostering on Father’s Day features, we are highlighting more male foster carers who are role models to children and young people in Cheshire.

Jonathan, who fosters with wife Alison, believes consistency and stability are key to providing a safe place for a child in need.

He said: “One of our biggest roles is to make sure life is as consistent as possible, as the children who come to us have often experienced instability.

“We know that routines and expectations are key to providing that stability and predictability in their lives.

“I ensure that I know what’s important to them, from foods they like and dislike, as well as their favourite pastimes and treasured possessions.

“That’s how you start to build their trust, by seeing them as an individual, and a very important one at that.”

Another carer, Dave, fosters with his wife Paula, and he said: “We care for a brother and sister, who are absolutely part of our family.

“I am fully committed to being a father figure to them and ended up giving up work to be around for them more.

“Initially, we felt Paula would be the main carer, due to her skills and experience as a childminder, but as the years have gone by, I relish more and more my responsibility in being a positive male role model.”

For more information about fostering visit foster4.co.uk or call 01925 444100. You can also email fosteringrecruitment@warrington.gov.uk or use @foster4cheshire on Facebook and Instagram.

When a foster home becomes a permanent home

Foster carers can offer emergency, short-term or long-term care to children and young people in need.

Where appropriate they sometimes become permanent arrangements or the foster carer applies to adopt the child.

Patrick, who fosters with wife Sylvia, said: “The wellbeing of children and young people is paramount as they’ve often been through so much.

“We work with social workers, teachers and other professionals to protect their best interests.

“We’ve been matched to the child in our care, so are looking forward to having her in our family permanently.”

Dave and his partner Yvonne care for a large sibling group and are in the process of adopting them.

Dave said: “We initially got into fostering through Yvonne’s work, and in the beginning, we fostered a young person with learning difficulties.

“He’s now an adult and still lives with us and we also have our own little girl.

“We didn’t think we’d be fostering a large group of siblings too but the children came to us on a short-term basis at first.

“Then it became clear that they needed to be adopted and given the chance to have a family to call their own.

“I love being their father figure and soon-to-be official father!”