A Salford foster carer is encouraging people to think about looking after vulnerable children.
Michelle, 42, from Irlam ‘o th’ Height, has been a foster carer for five years and hopes to inspire other people to think about taking up the role by shining a light on the positive impact of the role.
Her message comes during Foster Care Fortnight, a two-week national campaign to celebrate foster carers and raise awareness of the life‑changing impact fostering can have, which runs until Sunday 24 May.
She is single and works full-time in finance with the Co-op and has found they’re very supportive in helping her combine work with looking after two girls aged five and 11 years old, long-term.
Michelle said: “I want people to know you don’t have to be retired, in a relationship, or not working to be a foster carer.
“There are a lot of children out there who need help and a lot of people who can help them and carers get lots of continuous support, training and help to do the role. I’ve also made new friends through fostering, as have the girls I care for.
“I really enjoy being a mum, helping them have a better life, do fun things, feel confident and settled, and mix with other foster children, carers and council staff. My work is flexible, so I can work from home, and work hours around supporting the children and taking them to things like appointments.
“I began as a short-term foster carer after a friend who is a social worker with the council talked with me about it. There was a couple in my street when I was growing up who used to foster. I saw how they helped children and I used to play with them. The children all had a better life with them and I’m still in touch with some of the children.”
Councillor Jim Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services at Salford City Council, said: “Becoming a foster carer is one of the most powerful ways you can change a child’s life.
“It’s about offering stability, kindness and hope at a time when everything can feel uncertain. Foster carers don’t just provide a safe home — they help children feel seen, valued and believed in, and that sense of belonging can make a lifelong difference.
“Foster carers play an important role in helping the council achieve its vision and plans for a child-friendly city. We will be recognising their dedication and amazing contribution at the long service foster care awards during the fortnight.”
Across Salford, foster carers open their homes to provide love, stability, and care to children and young people.
Many more foster carers are urgently needed to ensure every child can be matched with the right home for their individual needs.
This year’s theme, ‘This is Fostering’, shines a light on the everyday realities of fostering, raising awareness of the profound impact foster carers have on children’s lives. It celebrates the skills, commitment and love they show, often in incredibly challenging circumstances.
Each child, situation, and foster carer is unique. What unites foster carers is their commitment to positively impact the lives of children and young people who, through circumstances beyond their control, require support and care.
For more information about becoming a Foster Carer in Salford, visit the Salford City Council’s Foster for Salford website.
