This couple has fostered over 140 children and have no plans to stop

By Amy Reast via SWNS

Meet the couple who have fostered more than 140 children over two decades - and have no plans to stop there.

Mandy Bright, 62, and her husband Joe, 67, began fostering 21 years ago and have now seen 144 children pass through their care.

The married couple take children – and sometimes parents - into their home in West Derby, Liverpool, England for stays ranging from one night to two years.

They started fostering as Mandy is the third generation in her family to be a foster parent, after her grandmother and also her parents fostered while she was a child.

The Brights, who are now both retired, say it is the “most rewarding” thing they’ve ever done and have no plans to stop.

Mandy is now urging others to consider fostering too amidst a shortage of foster parents for vulnerable children - saying "now more than ever, we need people to come forward."

The retired civil servant said: "I grew up around foster children so I knew fostering was something I always wanted to do.

"It's not always easy, but knowing that we make a difference is what keeps us going. We always said if we could make a difference to just one child's life, it would all be worth it.

"And we know we have changed many children's lives because they come back and tell us - I have stayed in contact with many of our foster children.

"We even watched one of them get married recently. It's the most rewarding feeling knowing you've helped to make someone's life better."

Mandy told how she had always wanted to foster due to her childhood, where several of her family members had fostered.

Her grandmother had fostered children throughout her childhood, and Mandy's parents also fostered for a time - meaning she is the third generation in her family to be a foster parent.

She said she always planned to foster when she got older.

She then introduced the idea to husband Joe, he was on board - and they never looked back.

Mandy said: "We always said if we could make a difference to one child's life it would be worth it."

They first began fostering children in 2000, taking in emergency placements for as little as one night through to longer placements exceeding two years.

Sometimes these would be very vulnerable children and it wouldn't always be easy - often coming from parents with mental health problems or facing alcohol and drug abuse.

She said: "You have to have a lot of compassion and understanding of where issues arise from - you need to show empathy.

"But the thing to focus on is that we are looking after these children to keep them safe."

Ten years into their fostering journey, they also began taking on 'parent and child' placements, where they would invite a parent or parents into their home to live with them, as well as the children.

Mandy explained this is a way to support the parents, who may have come from the care system themselves, and show "what a proper functioning family unit" can look like.

The couple say the parent and child placements help in being able to "break the cycle" of childhood trauma which can result in children ending up in the care system.

She said: "If you can help and support a parent and teach them to look after their child safely, then they can go on and develop and life a proper family life.

"These types of placements can be very demanding because you have to be with them 24/7, but it makes a huge difference to their lives.

"We had a 16-year-old mum once who had become homeless while pregnant.

"We had a brilliant success with her - she went on to become a brilliant parent to her little boy."

Now in their 22nd year of fostering, they have looked after 144 children as well as housed around 16 parents.

They also have a son of their own, and a foster daughter who has become part of their family - who has her own children that see Mandy and Joe as their grandparents.

They have kept in close contact with many of the children whose lives they have changed and love meeting them and getting updates on their now-adult lives.

Mandy said: "We know we change lives because they come back and tell us.

"Many children we fostered now have good fulfilled lives as adults, and that makes all the difference to us.

"We have been told, 'if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here now' - it's brilliant."

Mandy and Joe have no plans to stop fostering - and are encouraging others to consider signing up.

Mandy said: "More than ever, we need new foster parents to come forward. It can be stressful, but it is the most rewarding feeling.

"You know you're helping to make someone's life better and that makes it all worth it."