A groundbreaking Channel 4 documentary is heading to Greater Manchester to focus on a family’s tearful goodbye to their foster children.
The three-part series 15,000 Kids And Counting introduces a family from Leigh, Wigan, in the second instalment of the series and it is scheduled to air this evening at 9pm.
The programme follows Debbie Bullpitt, 49, her husband Chris, 50, their daughter Rosie, 11, and their two foster children – siblings Lauren, 7, and Liam, 3 – as they search of a permanent family.
The couple who were new to foster care gave TV crews unprecedented access into their lives in an attempt to encourage more people to follow in their footsteps.
Debbie said: “We did it for the kids. We wanted to show potential adopters that older children have a lot to offer too and it worked.
“Lauren and Liam have got such a happy future to look forward to with a mum and dad who will love and take care of them for the rest of their lives – and that’s all that matters.”
A few weeks after, the Bulpitts were approved as foster carers when they received a phone call from a social worker who was searching for a temporary home for Lauren and Liam.
The pair arrived on the doorstep a day later with nothing more than a bin bag of belongings and since then the family have never looked back.
Originally, the couple had only signed up to do short-term foster care but as the years passed by they realised how easy it was to become emotionally attached.
“That’s when the reality of fostering hit home – like being a parent, nothing quite prepares you for it,” added Chris.
“Looking back I suppose we went into it naively – we thought we could just ‘fix’ them but it’s not as simple as that.
“But what we can do is provide a stable, safe and loving home. It is hard work, but it’s also the most rewarding job you can do.”
The Bulpitts had a front row seat to watch two children that they loved grow up and six weeks ago – Lauren and Liam were adopted by another family.
Debbie said: “They became a part of our family and so when they left it was sad.
“We’d gone from a noisy and chaotic household to a quiet one – it’s almost as though we’re going through a grieving process, but at the same time we’re so happy that they’ve found such wonderful parents.”
Councillor Susan Loudon, Wigan Council cabinet member for children and young people, backed the couple’s appearance on the show.
She said: “This series gives viewers an excellent insight into the reality of life in care.
“Ultimately, our main goal is to find loving families for all of our children to ensure they, like Lauren and Liam, have their own happy ending.”
To find out more about fostering, you can visit: Wigan Council’s fostering website or their site on adoption.
Image courtesy of Channel 4 via Youtube with thanks
