So when, on a wintry January evening in 2015, two young boys arrived in the middle of the night, it felt like the beginning of a new chapter she was ready for. It was Lorraine’s first time as a single carer, and she vividly recalls how young and vulnerable the children looked. 

“I still remember that feeling,” she says. “The shock of responsibility, the instinct to protect them straight away, and knowing, right then, that my life had changed for the better.” 

Over the years, fostering has reshaped her in ways she didn’t expect. “It has strengthened my empathy,” she explains, “and given me clarity about my own childhood.” Growing up with what she describes as a childhood marked by transitions and instability, has helped her understand what children need most: “Security, loving your home, and having the things that make it feel like it’s part of who you are.” 

Lorraine’s approach to fostering is deeply thoughtful and reflective. “It means being honest, having great understanding of the child and the families they come from,” she says. She talks of being holistic, therapeutic, and self‑awareness. “You have to understand yourself to instil those morals and skills to the children,” she explains. 

Naturally, being a foster carer has its hard times. “A tough realisation is that you can’t expect our children to be grateful,” she says. “They’re not here to be grateful. It’s purely about building the nurture they’ve missed.”  

And for Lorraine, that nurturing is done through consistency, wellbeing, and leaning on support networks. She describes the therapeutic training she’s received as “really significant,” helping her understand the mind, neuroscience, and her own reactions. 

When looking back, one message truly stands out: Fostering is far more than merely offering a bed.  

“It’s really making sure you’ve got the dynamics right in your home,” she says.  

Lorraine’s advice to others thinking of becoming a foster carer is simple, honest, and grounded: “Be transparent, open, do the training … and continue to do the training. You never stop bettering yourself.” 

She chose Waltham Windmill for her photograph as “It’s where I’ve taken the children to see Santa, firework displays and enjoyed plenty of ice cream and sweets!” 

It’s a place of memories - simple, warm, and full of the childhood moments she helps rebuild.