Orchard Fostering is one of Ireland’s leading fostering agencies. It is part of the Orchard Care Group, which offers support in fostering, disability and residential services.

Orchard Fostering also provides a wide range of additional services, including a social care team, a 24-hour call service, peer-to-peer support groups, training, Irish Foster Care Association membership, therapy, and family activities. They partner with Tusla to provide a positive care experience for children and young people.

Lorna and Nicola are a same-sex couple who have been involved with Orchard Fostering, and GCN spoke with them about their experience.

Nicola, 50, and Lorna, 41, have been together for 13 years, married for five. Lorna works in sales, and Nicola has taken time off her career to be the full-time carer for their foster child.

They love nature, hiking, and entertaining. “Family and friends are very important to us.” They are spiritual and take time every morning to remind themselves of what they are grateful for.

“We currently have four furbabies: one cat and three dogs; all rescues,” they add. 

Their fostering journey began in mid-2021. “We had so many chats about whether we would or wouldn’t, or whether we would go down the route of having our own children. We did a lot of research on both, and decided there were so many children who were in dire need of homes and carers that that was where our heart lay.”

Nicola cites their two main criteria for fostering as physically having the room and having “love in our hearts and a will to help any child that came through our doors for whatever length of time”. They had both. The couple moved forward and were approved by June 2022.

“After approaching several agencies and Tusla directly, we settled on Orchard Fostering, as we found them the most informative and approachable. They were there to answer any questions we had, and we felt no pressure to start the process with them.

“They alleviated any fears or concerns that we had at the time. They have so much support, too. They offer in-person peer support meet-ups for carers. They also do family days out for foster carers, foster children and your own children too throughout the year.”

The pair felt supported throughout their experience with Orchard Fostering. “They were great; they offered training and support. Any concerns or issues they help put your mind at ease. They were there to hold your hand through the process.

“The process is long and very thorough, but it really allows you to explore what kind of parent you might be, how a child in care coming into your home may need extra help and how to deal with that. Really, any kind of fear or doubt you might have, Orchard were able to help us work through it and let us make the decision ourselves.”

Nicola says Orchard Fostering’s services made them feel prepared for their fostering experience. “We had two siblings for 10 months. When they left our care, we took a break to heal and to make sure we were 100% before we fostered another child.” They currently have a one-year-old, “and we are enjoying every moment of it,” they shared.

“We feel very lucky and blessed that we get to experience a child growing and thriving and being able to give them a start in life when they and their family need it most. It can be tough at times, but like anything worth doing, it has its challenges. Once you talk and deal with it, those times pass.”

They particularly appreciate having an assigned link worker, as “your support between Tusla and you. They build a relationship with you and are always there to listen and offer support, and get a solution for you.”

When asked what they would say to anyone considering fostering, Nicola said, “I would 100% go for it. Yes, it can be tough at times because you are dealing with little humans, but even with the system being tough, the rewards outweigh any concerns or fears you may have. With Orchard, we have found the support, knowledge and expertise superb.

“We feel they have been with us every step of the way, supporting us and understanding us too. The joy our foster child has brought to our family, not just myself and Lorna, but also our extended family, has been a blessing. There are so many children out there that need to be nurtured and cared for, and if you have room in your heart and home, why wouldn’t you give a child the chance to experience that?”

Learn more about Orchard Fostering and start the process of becoming a foster career here.

 

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