WHENEVER she is asked what it takes to be a foster carer, Catherine Alexander has a simple answer ready.

“You don’t need a bunch of formal qualifications, nor do you need experience,” explains the 65-year-old.

“All you need is room in your heart to help those who need you.”

As South Lanarkshire Council kicks off a campaign to boost its care ‘short breaks’ programme for families, Catherine is urging would-be carers to get involved.

She should know – the former childminder has helped to care for more than 100 children over an inspirational 35-year career.

Catherine, who is from Cambuslang, explains: “My time as a respite foster carer has been fulfilling and heartwarming.

“I’d say to anyone who is sitting at home, considering whether or not to take it on, just to to do it.”

Catherine is retiring from her role as a respite carer for South Lanarkshire Council this month, having spent almost four decades helping local families.

Under the ‘short breaks’ programme she has worked with the council’s family placement team to offer short-term respite care to children and families with additional support needs.

She explains: “A ‘short break’ is whatever the individual family needs it to be.

“It can be every now and again, one night a week, every other weekend.

“The ideal is that it can help families who might be close to breaking point; time and space can make a huge difference to relationships where there are additional needs or other issues at play.”

She adds: “Effectively, I’m like an extension of the family unit.”

Catherine’s own background is in childcare.

A childminder since the early 1980s, she was also a founding member of the Cambuslang and Rutherglen Befriending and Respite Group, through which she began to work more closely with the local authority’s social work department, to offer regular and emergency short term care.

The mum-of-three then went on to balance her own family life with her career as a childminder and long-term member of the short breaks team.

She says:“My youngest daughter is 29 now but has always been happy and comfortable to welcome the young people I have cared for into our home.

“Even now she is like a big sister figure to many of them.

“It’s just always been a part of me to want to help those who need it, especially families and children.”

She adds: “Like any caring responsibility it brings challenges but I would hand on heart say that these are far outweighed by the many, many highs that come from such a rewarding vocation.”

Of the 100 children Catherine has cared for in her career, many still stay in touch to this day.

She believes that is one of the unexpected benefits of being a carer.

“I have at least one piece of artwork, thank you card or memento from every young person who has passed through my home,” she says with a smile.

“I treasure them all.

“Only this week I bumped into a girl I used to look after along with her sister, and who I haven’t seen for 20 years.

“She came up and gave me a hug and it was so wonderful to see her grown up and happy.”

Catherine adds; ““It’s moments like these that make it so worthwhile.”

She adds: “It’s a feeling you get so often when you are involved in respite care.

“I feel proud of the small part I might have played in her story.”

Young people who have benefitted from foster care placements are also urging people to get involved.

Shaddelle Reid, who is now 18, was placed into foster care with her brothers when she was just 10.

“From the minute I went there I felt loved and safe,” says Shaddelle, who is from Stonehouse.

“Up until then I’d never been read a bedtime story and I just remember being tucked up in bed and being read to - I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.”

Shaddelle says her foster carer, Hazel, has been an incredible support over the years.

“She has taught me everything I know; from cooking and lots of practical skills, to encouraging me how to be the best me possible,” she smiles.

“I have absolutely no doubt that my life would have taken a different path if it hadn’t been for the grounded, safe and stable home Hazel was able to offer me.”

Shaddelle feels so strongly about children getting the best start possible that she is now a spokesperson for Who Cares? Scotland and aims to help other young people who can’t be cared for in their family homes.

She said: “One of the reasons that I tell my story is that I know mine has been really successful.

“I’m really lucky that I was kept with my brothers and that my placement has been stable. I have a happy ending.

“For me, every child in care should have that positive experience.

“I hope that by people hearing my story, they will realise that fostering really can change lives.”

She adds: “We need good foster carers in the South Lanarkshire area also if you think you could help out a child that was in a similar position to me then please make that first step.”

South Lanarkshire Council is desperate for would-be carers, whether you are interested in offering short breaks to families in need or a longer placement, to come forward as soon as possible.

Carers can come from all walks of life and backgrounds.

Applications are welcome from single people, married couples, couples in a stable relationship and people from the LGBT community, as well as families with or without children.

Anyone over the age of 21 can work with the team to offer crucial respite care – all that is needed is a room in your home and the enthusiasm, skills and qualities necessary to give children and families some breathing space.

To register interest or find out more, contact 0303 123 1008 or email familyplacement@southlanarkshire.gov.uk