Pearl Cotterell, 62
I started fostering in 2006 and it’s one of the most rewarding things I have done; getting young people to believe in themselves. I have fostered 10 young people through the charity Tact. One stayed with me for four years until he went off to university.
When Jahdan arrived he was a cautious young man. I talked to him constantly. I said, “The person you see today will be the same person you see tomorrow, next month, next year.” He slowly became comfortable and started calling me Aunty, and we gelled.
He was volatile and had been excluded from school. It was a long fight, but we found him a place just before his GCSEs and he took off. He passed his exams and decided to go to college.
He’s come a long way, but was not ready to leave the placement yet – it is the stable, calm environment he likes here.
Jahdan Grant, 18
My mum loves us, but she’s not able to look after me and my brothers and sister. My dad died when I was very young, so I haven’t got much memory of him.
I moved in with Pearl when I was 15, and I was pretty antisocial. She was so warm and patient, and she cared. I’ve been able to trust people a lot more than before.
I chose to stay until I’m 21 because I am not ready for the pressures of independence yet: looking after a home, bills, food and college. This way I can focus more on my studies and get Aunty’s support. She is teaching me how to cook for myself. I like her company – we can have a laugh and she does not judge me. She even knows the clothes I like; she can buy me anything and it will be something I really, really like.
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