Ex-Dragon's Den star, Richard Farleigh, was on ITV's Daybreak program this week talking about his experiences of being fostered from an early age.
The charismatic multi-millionaire serial entrepreneur explained on Daybreak how being fostered had completely changed his life, and that of his 6 brothers and sisters who were also taken into foster care in Australia during the '60's. During the interview he explains how he sees fostering as 'society's band-aid' helping disadvantaged children back into society. His biography on his website explains further, even crediting his foster brother Peter for teaching him to play Chess, a skill which kick-started his self-belief and indirectly his rise to the very top of the investment banking world in Australia.
Although Richard's experience of fostering happened in Australia, it is still heart-warming and inspiring for everyone involved in providing foster care no matter which part of the world they live in. His story is another testament to the enormous potential inside every young person and how the loving support of a foster family can help that potential to be realised. And it is also a reminder of the very important role the children of foster carers can play in the fostering process, something that we will be celebrating throughout October as part of the Fostering Network's Sons and Daughters campaign.
Inspired by Richard Farleigh's story and would like to know more about becoming a foster carer You can find lots more information here and when you're ready simply fill in our new carer enquiry form and we'll be in touch to help you start your own fostering success story.