His own path into fostering started through kinship care. Years ago, he and his then‑partner stepped forward to look after his nephew. “We had him for a year,” Jan recalls. “When he went back to his mum, we were asked by the council if we would consider becoming foster carers. I didn’t think much of it at the time. But after mulling it over I just thought now’s the right time to foster. I can actually do this.” 

His first day as a foster carer was unforgettable. “Panic – absolute panic,” he says with a smile. Three boys arrived late in the evening, the rain coming down hard. “One of them ran off straight away. I went after him on foot and found him eventually. After a long conversation, I got him inside, made hot chocolate, and we settled. That was day one.” 

And from that moment on, things only moved forward - each day bringing its own rewards, lessons and quiet triumphs. 

For Jan, fostering is guided by kindness and a strong sense of purpose. For the past eight years, he’s been a foster carer to two boys. 

“It’s simply caring,” he explains. “Really caring about those kids. Being there for them, being a good role model, an advocate. I just want them to have a happy life.” 

Fostering has certainly changed his view of the world. “It’s not only the kids we’re dealing with – it’s whole families, relationships, experiences. I’ve become more empathetic, I suppose. You try to help wherever you can.” 

But the job isn’t without challenges. “When children are in crisis, they don’t always know what they’re doing or why. Getting them back to a ‘normal level’ – that’s tough.”  

The advice that’s meant the most to him is simple but powerful: “Patience. Things can take years. Nothing is fixed in a few weeks,” he says. 

Jan chose Bradley Woods for his photograph – a place that’s been part of his life for nearly three decades. “I walk there twice a day. It’s quiet, friendly … a place to recharge. I take the children there too. If you’re lucky, you see deer or owls – it is a real place of peace for us all.” 

For anyone considering fostering, Jan offers one simple piece of advice: “When it gets difficult – which it will - there’s nothing wrong with reaching out for help. And help is always there.” 

Years later, Jan’s fostering journey came full circle when one of his former foster children rang to tell him she was becoming a foster carer herself. “She’s doing brilliantly – two cats, a long‑term partner … and now she wants to foster. That is something really special,” Jan beams.