When Gemma and her husband Ben got married in 2012, they imagined a future filled with family. But like many, their path to parenthood wasn’t straightforward. After a challenging IVF journey, they welcomed their daughter into the world. Knowing they wouldn’t go through the process again, they began to think about what family could look like for them—and how they could offer something more.
A place where everyone belongs
“I come from a big family, and so does Ben,” Gemma shares. “We didn’t want our daughter to grow up on her own. We’d been through a lot, but we came out stronger. We felt like we had more to give.”
The idea of fostering had always been in the back of Gemma’s mind. Growing up, she lived next door to a fostering family and remembers their home as warm, welcoming, and full of life. “It just stuck with me,” she says. “It felt like a place where everyone belonged.”
“Where I grew up, there was a family next door that fostered. It always felt like a really warm, open place, where kids would come and they were always happy and everyone was welcome. I have this fond memory of it. And when I think back to that, to those neighbours, and what their house was like, I feel like we’ve done it, we’ve achieved that.”
In 2019, Gemma and Ben attended a fostering open evening in Yate. “It just sounded even better than I imagined,” she recalls. “It felt like something that would really suit our family.”
After a pause during the pandemic, they began the fostering process with South Gloucestershire Council in 2021. Despite hearing that the assessment could be gruelling, Gemma found it manageable—and even uplifting. “The people we met, like Kate and our social worker Claire, made it feel like we were joining a community. And that’s exactly what it’s become.”
Their first placement arrived in October 2021 and stayed for seven months. “It was fantastic,” Gemma says. “We’ve been really lucky. I know not every placement is easy, but we’ve had two amazing children.”
Completing the family
Their second placement, came a few months later—and has now been with them for three years. “She’s just incredible,” Gemma beams. “She’s thrived. She started secondary school not knowing anyone and is now in top sets for everything. We’re so proud of her.”
Fostering hasn’t just changed her life—it’s shaped our daughter’s too. “She’s grown into the most thoughtful, kind child,” Gemma says. “She even did a school assembly about fostering. She’s proud of what we do, and that means everything.”
Gemma is quick to credit the support they’ve received. “Claire our social worker has been wonderful. The events, the community—it all makes such a difference. She feels like she belongs, and that’s so important.”
“When people come round and say ‘she’s doing so well, she said this the other day, you feel that pride. I’m proud of what we do. We’re doing something good. We’re doing a good job for someone; we’re changing her life.”
Now long-term matched, she is very much part of the family. “This is her home for as long as she wants it,” Gemma says. “We probably won’t foster again. I can’t imagine saying to her, ‘You can’t come back because someone else is in your room.’ She’ll always have a place here.”
Reflecting on their journey, Gemma says, “It was never just about giving our daughter a sibling – although they have an incredible bond. It was about enriching all our lives. And we’ve done that. We continue to do that.”
Thinking About Fostering? Gemma’s Advice:
“If you’re even slightly tempted—just give it a go,” Gemma says. “You’ve got nothing to lose. Even if it’s not for you, you’ll know you tried. But if it is? It’s the most rewarding thing you’ll ever do.”
Fostering isn’t always easy, but for Gemma, it’s been life-changing. “There’s no job like it. You’re not just going to work—you’re changing someone’s life. And that’s something to be proud of.”
She also highlights how fostering has enriched her own life, giving her tools through training, deeper empathy, and a sense of purpose. “It’s not just about the children—it’s about growing as a person and a family. You can make a difference. And there’s nothing more incredible than that.”
Want to take the first step on your own fostering journey? Get in touch.
