Fiona Donaldson and Ian Cope were already considering foster care 15 years ago when they felt that they were given a surreal nudge into committing to it.

Fiona said: “We had friends who had started the process, and we were seriously thinking about it when, out of the blue, we were in the car and an advert for fostering came on the radio. It was almost as if it was meant to be.

“We had our own children who were mostly grown up, and we thought that maybe we could give other children the opportunities that our own ones had experienced.

“However, you quickly learn that just because you have brought up your own children, it doesn’t mean you are prepared for fostering – it is very different, because they all have their own specific needs and history that they bring with them. That doesn’t mean you won’t succeed, though – you just need to support each one in the way that he or she needs you to, and to be aware of how those needs may change as time goes on.”

During that ongoing process described by Fiona, Ian – a cycling coach with Clydesdale Colts – discovered that the couple’s interest in sport and its benefits was something that could also be a profound help to the children in their care.

He said: “You definitely learn along the way, and you never stop learning. I am a huge believer in the beneficial aspects of sport, and I realised that this is especially true for children who, because of their past experiences in life, feel like their minds are in turmoil and out of control.

Fiona said “Sport can often be wonderful to help with this, because it intrinsically involves rhythm. Experiencing that rhythm gives a feeling of control in the mind, and for some children it might be the first time that they can calm down and focus for short periods of time.”

“You also find that the more they experience that feeling during sport, the more they find it possible to introduce it into the rest of their lives.“Then there’s also the aspect that sport gives them something that they can feel good about, and lets them experience moments of success and excitement they might not have come across too often in the past. It’s a wonderful way of developing and boosting a feeling of self-worth.”

Both Fiona and Ian were adamant about the significance of one over-riding aspect in life as a foster carer. As Fiona said: “It is absolutely one of the hardest things you can do, because every child you bring into your family has had different experiences affecting them before they come to you, and every journey with them is a rollercoaster.

“But it is also one of the most wonderful things you can do, and it gives you the rare chance to help someone on to a life they never imagined they could have, and give them opportunities that, otherwise, they would never have had. It is up to them whether they take them, but you are there to help and support them all along the way.”

The council is looking for new foster carers who live in South Lanarkshire and would especially welcome those who could support older children and children from family groups to ensure siblings can continue to live together.

Further information and a chance to make an enquiry about fostering can be found on the council website.

Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer for Health and Social Care in South Lanarkshire, (pictured above with members of the Families Connection team) said: “We have seen a great deal of success in increasing numbers of people becoming foster carers and this is due in no small part to the dedicated and attentive work of our Families Connection team and the level of support that the council offers.

“I would urge anyone who is thinking about becoming a foster carer to contact us to learn more about what it involves and how we can help.

“I am always inspired by the fulfilment that foster carers find in providing vital support to children and young people, letting them feel safe and loved and nurturing relationships that are patient, kind, compassionate, trusting and respectful.

“They are an invaluable part of our communities and I am extremely grateful to them for all that they do in changing the trajectory of the lives of countless children and young people for the better.”