As the weekly features and six-month campaign with Foster4 draws to a close, the team’s longest serving foster carers, Ros and Warren look back on the past 49 years as foster carers.

The couple, who started fostering in 1972, have had many experiences, learnt a lot and made some fantastic memories.

Ros said: “When we first started fostering, the council service that ran the scheme was called moral welfare.

“There was no training or paperwork to become foster carers but we have done so much since.

“In the early days, a lady from the council would arrive at our door with a newborn baby and a carrier bag of items.

“They provided us with £2 per week and left us to it, simply getting in touch every few weeks.

“We already had four children of our own so they were obviously confident we could do it!”

She added: “In those days, they didn’t tell you much about the babies’ background - it was very hush hush.

“Thankfully now, you are so much more informed, which is fundamental to supporting each child’s development.

“We always become so attached to the babies and have developed so many strong relationships with birth parents and adoptive parents alike.”

Warrington Guardian: Ros and Warren as they picked up their MBEs from Buckingham Palace in 2015Ros and Warren as they picked up their MBEs from Buckingham Palace in 2015

Warren said: “As we have a large family, we love to take big holidays so everyone can spend quality time together.

“We always take the babies with us even when we go to Australia!

“One thing that has definitely changed is how hard it is to get a passport for them.

“Now, as for everyone, there is much more paperwork involved.”

He added: “One thing that hasn’t changed though is the support we are given.

“We’re still in touch with our first social worker, Ruth, from all those years ago.

“We now also provide support to others too by helping with things such as the carer coffee mornings.

“We give a lot of support to adoptive parents, who are often anxious about caring for a newborn, just like we were when we had our first child!”

Ros and Warren’s tips for anyone thinking about becoming a foster carer

• Do your research. There are so many fostering agencies out there these days and many are profit making. The council and Foster4 are not and are solely focussed on the wellbeing of children and families.

• Don’t be anxious about speaking about fostering allowances. Children need to be provided with a good standard of living while they are in your care. They need warm clothes, nappies and nutritious food as well as activities and savings. The council and Foster4 provide you with an allowance to enable you to provide these things and also to contribute towards your household bills, so you can be available to care.

• Attend as many information and social events as you can.

• Undertake all the training available, both before you start your journey, and once you are approved. Fostering is a unique role, and you’ll make so many friends along the way who can guide and support you.

For more information about fostering visit foster4.co.uk or call 01925 444100.

You can also email fosteringrecruitment@warrington.gov.uk or use @foster4cheshire on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.