A foster carer from Birmingham has shared how taking in a transgender young person in need made him feel proud to have helped their journey. Mobeen and his wife Zara began fostering when they were in their 20s, and the couple have since supported multiple children from across Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Beginning the Fostering Journey
They were approved as foster carers in 2020 following the birth of their first daughter, Mobeen said. He added that the couple had been looking into becoming foster carers for a while before they decided to apply.
"Since my wife and I got married, we have always been thinking about doing something for the community, and we spoke about fostering," he said. "But it was always in the background because we were working, or something always came up. Sometimes you don't realise the need for fostering because there isn't a lot of information about it, or you don't really notice it."
"You might walk past a billboard and not think twice. But there are so many children out there who need a foster home, and not enough people are applying to become foster carers."
A Life-Changing Decision
The couple's decision to foster followed the birth of their first daughter, which prompted them to reflect on how they could support children facing difficult circumstances. Mobeen said: "When our first daughter was born, that was the nail on the head for us. Looking at her made us think about what we could do as parents to help and provide for a child who is in a bad situation. That was the initial big step for us."
After researching fostering agencies in their local area, the couple chose to apply to Swiis Foster Care. Mobeen added: "We started to look into fostering agencies, reading case studies, and watching YouTube videos. Agencies can seem very similar, so we asked ourselves what kind of support they could give us.
"We were going to be first-time carers, and it can be scary going into it. We wanted reassurance about what would be in place if something didn't go quite right. That kind of support gives reassurance."
"My wife came across Swiis as one of the main organisations. From then on, we started looking more into what Swiis provides, and we took the first step by reaching out to get more information."
Supporting a Transgender Young Person
Since being approved, the couple have supported a range of children and young people. Reflecting on the moments that have stayed with him, Mobeen said: "We have quite a few, but one of the main ones was our first young person.
"They are transgender, and it took them a while to get placed with the right match. For us, we were open to any type of child.
"A child does not choose to be in that situation, and they should be given equal opportunity regardless of what they believe or who they want to be. Seeing that transition and knowing we played a part in that makes us proud. It reassures us that we are doing the right thing."
Encouraging Others to Foster
During Foster Care Fortnight, which is taking place this month, Mobeen hopes his experience will reassure other people who are considering fostering but feel unsure. The dad said: "Take the leap, just do it! You are not alone in it, and that is the most important thing."
