For Lidia Redhead, the concept of ‘family’ has always been expansive. Growing up in Greenford, her childhood home was a revolving door of support, safety, and new siblings. Her parents have been foster carers for 26 years, providing a home for approximately 20 children through various arrangements, including respite, short-term, and long-term placements.
Lidia grew up alongside 13 foster brothers and sisters, including sibling groups of three. This immersive experience did more than just provide her with a busy household; it shaped her professional trajectory and her personal values. Observing young people arrive with significant challenges and leave with renewed self-esteem inspired her to pursue a career as a social worker.
A multi-generational commitment to care
Today, Lidia is continuing that family tradition. Alongside her partner, Rubin, she became a foster carer with Ealing Council in June 2019. While Lidia was intimately familiar with the process, the experience was new to Rubin. To prepare, the couple attended the ‘Skills to Foster’ course, a programme designed to provide an honest look at the realities of the role, from the trauma children may have experienced to the practical support available to carers.
Rubin notes that the transition was handled with care, involving a gradual introduction to their first foster child. Since then, the couple has primarily focused on fostering teenagers, having cared for seven young people to date. Despite common misconceptions about fostering older children, Lidia describes the process of earning a teenager’s trust as a unique privilege. Many of the young people who have stayed with them remain in contact, returning for visits and remaining a part of their extended family circle.
The journey of a single carer in Acton
Lidia’s story is mirrored by other residents across the borough who have found purpose in fostering later in life. Elena Fitkov-Norris, a resident of Acton, began considering fostering after her own children had grown up. However, as a single person, she initially questioned whether she was the right fit for such a significant responsibility.
During her initial training, Elena recalls feeling apprehensive while surrounded by couples. It was the reassurance of the wider fostering network that changed her perspective. She realised that while she might be the primary carer in her home, she was part of a much larger professional and community support system.
Elena has found that fostering enriched her own family life in unexpected ways, bringing her closer to her adult children. She emphasizes that the reward often lies in small, everyday moments—a cup of tea made by a foster child, a photo shared to show a personal achievement, or a simple expression of affection.
What this means locally
Ealing Council continues to seek residents who can provide stable and supportive environments for children and young people. Robert South, the council’s strategic director of children’s services, has highlighted the vital role these carers play in the local community, expressing gratitude for the stability they provide to the borough’s most vulnerable youth.
To help prospective carers learn more, the council is hosting several outreach events across the borough. These sessions allow residents to ask questions and hear first-hand accounts of the fostering experience:
- Ealing Town Hall: Friday, 15 May, 9am – 5:30pm
- Westway Cross Shopping Centre, Greenford: Saturday, 16 May, 9am – 5:30pm
- Quality Foods and Iceland, Southall: Friday, 22 May, 9am – 5:30pm
These events coincide with Foster Care Fortnight, a national campaign aimed at raising awareness of the transformative impact of foster care on both the children and the families who welcome them.
Source: Ealing Council
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