FOSTER FOR NEWHAM,

Delrose and John have been fostering for Newham since 2012. Delrose was attracted to fostering as a mother who is loving

Destiny said “when I first came to live with Delrose and John they made me feel very comfortable but also gave me boundaries, at first I poked at this a bit but they sat me down and told me what I could and couldn’t do and I listened to them. They have always helped me when I need it, over the last year I have been trying to find a job as well as attending

• Exemption from paying Council Tax if you live in or outside of Newham

• Your own social worker (the child will have a different social worker to you)

• 24 hour support

• Support from a monthly foster care support group

• Membership of Newham Foster Carers’ Association

• Free membership to Fostering Network, an independent support organisation for foster carers

• Ongoing training throughout your fostering career

• Invitation to the foster carers annual awards event

• An additional payment of £1000 when as a Newham foster carer you recommend someone who goes on to be approved by Newham and accepts their first placement

It’s ironic, I think, that one of the things we all have in common is the fact that we’re all different.

Of the billions of humans currently walking the earth, each leaves a completely different footprint, has a totally different fingerprint, and makes an entirely different imprint on the world. No one person is like another, which – in some cases – is probably just as well!

It takes all sorts to make – or break – a world. So, if we’re to get on well with those around us, it’s important we’re aware of just how different we can be.

Some are pessimists. Some optimists. People who see things in terms of their glass being half full, or half empty. (Or, if you’re like me, the cracked glass is half empty, and what’s in it probably wasn’t worth drinking anyway!)

“It’ll never happen to me!” say some. “Just my luck!” say others.

Some see things starkly in terms of either wrong or right, with no room for grey areas, nuance, ambiguity or debate. Others see things from every possible angle, and are only too happy to make allowances, withhold judgment, and give people the benefit of the doubt.

Churches can also be like that... …and then there are the introverts and extroverts.

Extroverts get their energy from being with people. Meetings, events and social activities charge their batteries, feed their furnace and fire them up.

If you’re an introvert, however, too much human interaction will probably fry your brain! The way introverts recharge their batteries is by taking time to think, decompress, and work things out on their own. Too much personal contact can wind them up, wear them out or drag them down.

This explains why attending house groups or church may be harder for some than it is