Foster Carer Lorraine provides vital support for Rashid in pursuit of his Duke of Edinburgh goals

Foster Carers provide vital support to help Rashid adapt to living in the UK and go on to witness his incredible accomplishments with the completion of his Silver, Bronze and now Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

Lorraine & Marco

Foster carers Lorraine and Marco have supported Rashid, an unaccompanied minor from Sudan, for 2.5 years. When Rashid arrived at 16, he spoke no English, a challenge Lorraine and Marco helped him overcome. Lorraine and Marco also care for another young man from Sudan, Adam, and has shared insights on their experiences with unaccompanied minors, including Rashid's recent achievements in the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE).

Over their three years of fostering, Lorraine and Marco have engaged in various types of fostering, finding fulfilment in supporting unaccompanied minors. They highlight the challenges of cultural differences and the adjustment to life in the UK. Lorraine notes, 'Their culture is so different from ours; before, they were not used to doing anything at home, but now, they do, and their way of life is very different. ' She emphasises the additional hurdle of language barriers in integrating into a new community.

Foster Carer Marco, who has a dual heritage, knows first-hand how sometimes you might find obstacles to overcome, so he can relate to the young people in their home and offer his guidance through his lived experience.

Helping young people settle into English culture

Helping Rashid to learn English was something Lorraine said took time, but by using the form of charades, which they all found useful helped develop his English. Rashid also had a tutor who helped him with his English, but Lorraine wishes he had more 1-1 support from external providers. Another way to make Rashid feel comfortable in the home would be for Lorraine to buy the foods he likes, which with the household living a bit more rural meant Lorraine travelling several miles to get the foods they would like and wanted to eat. Sharing ‘sometimes the young people wouldn’t like traditional foods so it can sometimes feel disappointing when food is wasted, or they won’t try the food you buy and make.’ Learning about their cultural needs has been essential, and Lorraine and Marco have supported the young people through Ramadan and will take them to the mosque if they choose to attend.

Rashid receives Special Mention at the Duke of Edinburgh Award Nomination

Rashid is on the verge of completing his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. He has received a special mention for the “This is Youth” Award under the “Change Maker of the Year” category, highlighting his significant growth. His contributions in helping peers with map reading and translating between Arabic and English demonstrate that determination can lead to success. Lorraine and Marco are incredibly proud of his achievements.

The "This is Youth" award, part of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), is designed to celebrate and recognise young people who have made a positive impact on their communities through their DofE journey. The purpose of this award is to shine a light on the exceptional efforts of young people and the adults who support them, showcasing how participants have gone above and beyond to overcome challenges, display resilience, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Rashid's most impactful contribution is his role as a translator, bridging the communication gap between Arabic and English. His efforts extend beyond his cohort, ensuring essential information is accessible to all, promoting inclusivity and understanding.

Lorraine and Marco recognised the importance of encouraging young people to step outside their comfort zones. Embracing this opportunity has benefited Rashid and inspired A, the other young person in the household, to pursue his own Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Supporting Rashid with his Duke of Edinburgh

Being a supportive foster carer is important to helping young people achieve their goals, and Lorraine and Marco have done just that by helping Rashid. Lorraine says, 'Rashid is an exceptional young man. We're worlds apart, and our culture is so different, but taking part in the DofE pushes them out of their comfort zone, and we support him with what he needs.'  Lorraine helps by getting all the items he needs for his volunteering, providing the refreshments, and driving Rashid from A2B to making sure he completes his tasks on time. Another form of support is having helped Rashid to understand English culture and embrace comfort from others, which beforehand wasn't something he would be familiar with as this did not come naturally from his culture, and now, they can enjoy a hug in times of sadness or happiness. Since Rashid has learned IT skills, Lorraine says, 'he is phenomenal at IT and a computer whiz and helps me when I get stuck using the computer, so this is a great achievement.'

Helping overcome challenges

Learning new skills and a new language can be tricky, and Rashid has had to learn how to complete forms related to the DofE. Lorraine tells us how she initially had to spend a lot of time helping fill out forms online and making sure he understood the questions and was inputting the correct information while also helping him with his pronunciation of words. Not wanting him to miss out on opportunities or input incorrect details which could affect his work, Lorraine and Marco made sure they were there to support him with each step of his journey. Being a big advocate for the young people you look after is vital, and this couple is no different sharing. ‘Rashid is generally a laid-back person, but I have helped Rashid to learn to stick up for himself when this is needed.’ The DofE allowed Rashid to learn new skills, and they have witnessed Rashid grow in confidence and appreciate being able to come home to a comfy, warm bed and a nice cooked meal. Being with other young people has provided a sense of belonging and community amongst those who have completed their DofE.

Celebrating achievements

Celebrating the young people's achievements is important, and Lorraine shared that beforehand she had taken Rashid out for a lovely Indian meal, which they enjoyed together. One thing the household did for Rashid was have Marco create a handmade frame for his DofE certificates to go in and have all three placed alongside one another, which can be kept as a keepsake, which means a lot to the household and will form lasting memories. Following this, Lorraine has been creating a book for Rashid for when he moves on to independence, which contains memories of things they have done or memories they have created together, which she hopes will be taken with him when he moves on to living outside the fostering household.

Both Lorraine and Marco have enjoyed being able to help him achieve these goals and become the person he is today. They admit that at times, the long distance travelling, and commitment were challenging, but the joy of seeing the growth in him made it all worth it.

The importance of emotional support

Lorraine and Marco have helped Rashid with his volunteering for the DofE and took him to friend’s homes to help with gardening which he did on a voluntary basis which their friends expressed how impressed they were with his work effort. They were so impressed that following on after his volunteering had been completed it led to Rashid being able to continue this but to earn him some money and help towards saving to see his sister who lives abroad.

As Rashid prepares for independence, Lorraine and Marco are supporting him in exploring housing options and understanding what would be best for him. They have made significant efforts to help both Rashid and A feel welcomed and integrated into the community, engaging them in activities like gym sessions, football, and swimming.

Having a strong support network is crucial for maintaining a harmonious home environment. Lorraine acknowledges that fostering can expose them to upsetting circumstances, with young people sometimes sharing emotional traumas. This makes the support from their local office, Supervising Social Worker, and wider support network essential.

Lorraine cherishes the deep bonds she has formed with many of the young people she has cared for over the years, with some staying in touch. The couple have fond memories of connecting with young people personally, finding that the rewards and fulfilment of these relationships are memories they will always treasure.

Next, read Rashid's Duke of Edinburgh 'Change Maker of the Year' Award nomination - Rashid's Duke of Edinburgh Change Maker of the Year Award Nomination | Nexus Fostering