A TORFAEN couple have shared their personal accounts of becoming foster carers, labelling the practice ‘a positive experience’.

Abersychan husband and wife David and Sally Orme started taking on children five years ago, after growing up around foster families in their own respective childhoods.

Torfaen council launched the ‘More than a Job’ campaign at the start of the year, in the hope to inspire more borough residents, like the Orme's, to consider foster caring as an option.

“I grew up in a street with a foster family, but never knew they were a foster family until my teenage years,” said Mrs Orme.

“Sometimes they would be very angry and confused when they arrived, but then by the time they moved on they were settled and happy. That to me was just amazing.”

The couple have fostered over 10 children aged from 15 months to 16 years old and have praised the role of the council in helping provide advice for prospective carers.

“You see the children when you start with them and you see the end product,” said Mrs Orme.

“We’ve got children now and they are going to be growing up and going to university. It is so worth investing the time and effort in - all children are worth it.”

The decision to become foster carers was shared between the couple, who are enjoying the challenge.

Mr Orme said: “The best thing about fostering for me personally is having a larger family and seeing people get on together and seeing the diversities and different personalities.

Watch  David and Sally Orme discuss why they enjoy fostering here

“It’s been said in the past that we’ve got a happy house, so everybody generally gets on and looks out for each other.

“Fostering can be a job, you can look at it as a career, but it’s doing something you enjoy, and not all people can do a job that they enjoy,” he added.

“It is about how your family works with the placements that you have but overall it’s getting through it and it turns into a positive experience.”

Torfaen’s executive member for health, social care and well-being, cllr Richard Clark, said: “It was fantastic to hear David and Sally discuss their experiences of fostering.

"Fostering is a highly rewarding career, and I urge anyone who is considering becoming a foster carer in Torfaen to get in touch with our family placement team.”

Information from the council on becoming a foster carer is available at torfaen.gov.uk/fostering