A RETIRED foster couple have revealed the highs and lows of their 13 years caring for some of the most vulnerable kids in Inverclyde.

Kathleen and Dave Devlin spent years opening up their home and hearts to look after youngsters who could not remain with their own parents.

They have now completed their time stepping in as temporary parents and have passed the baton on to others.

But they can reflect on more than a decade of making a difference for children of all ages.

Kathleen, 71, from Overton, said: “It was something that I always wanted to do but we waited until our own children were grown up.

“It is the hardest job in the world, I really had no idea when I first started. 

“But it is also the most worthwhile and rewarding job you can ever do.

“When the children leave you more confident and secure, you know you have made a difference.

“It is about helping all children fulfil their potential.”

The couple have many treasured memories and some tearful ones too.

Kathleen said: “We had a few kids from the same family, at different times.

“I think the hardest time was saying goodbye to my first baby.

“She was given to me when she was a newborn from hospital and stayed with us for two years.

“She was like my own.

“We have all these memories of her first steps, her first words.

“It is a shame we can’t share it with her.

“But that is how it goes.

“She is now with an adopted family.”

Kathleen and Dave, a retired fabricator, also cared for children with disabilities.

She said: “One wee boy needed care 24/7 and it was tough.
“But we got there.”

Together with their sons David, 34, and Kieron, 32, the couple devoted so much time to foster care and Kathleen admits it was a wrench to give it up.

Kathleen said: “I will miss it but you need to be able to give so much. 

“I have learned a lot over the years.

“Now I would like to mentor other foster carers and pass on everything I have learned, once I have had a wee break.”

The couple praised Inverclyde Council’s social workers for the tough job they do day-in, day-out.

Kathleen said: “There have been big improvements from when I first started fostering.

“I have to say all the social workers in Inverclyde we worked with all had the children’s best interests at heart.

“Don’t get me wrong, we had differences of opinions at times because I was with the children 24/7.

“But really I can’t fault them.”

The service is always looking for more families to foster and Kathleen believes that it is something that has to come from the heart.

She said: “You wouldn’t be a foster carer for the money. We were ‘short term’ foster carers but you can have the children for two or three years. 

“There are so many stages the children have to go through in adoption processes as well. Parents have to have a chance as well, to see if they can be reunited.

“As a foster carer you have to keep preparing the children for the different stages and helping them through it all.

“I thought it was important to treat my foster children the way I treated my own children. Although you have to make allowances. 

“There are probably children out there who will say ‘she was always giving me a row’.

“But I thought it was important to set boundaries, to show I cared enough to say no.

“Some of the kids had never had that before and it was about making them feel secure and safe.

“I was the bad cop and Dave was always the good cop!”

Although they have retired as foster carers, kind Kathleen and Dave still do their bit — by continuing to donate part of their yearly winter fuel allowance to local charity Children in Poverty Inverclyde.

Kathleen said: “There is so much need out there and we really had no idea until we started fostering.

“It has certainly opened our eyes.

“Children in Poverty Inverclyde is one of the best things to happen to this area. 

“Its founder Pat Burke is giving children the chance to have a holiday for the first time.

“Some of these kids have no idea what ist like to go away and have fun and they get to leave everything behind, just for a while.

“One of the first things we did when we started fostering was take the kids on holiday.”

Children in Poverty Inverclyde chairman Pat Burke said: “The support we get from Kathleen and Dave is amazing.

“For the third successive year they have donated their winter fuel payments of £100 each to ourselves and Ardgowan Hospice, which is a truly magnificent gesture.”