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Bev and Steve have five children of their own, aged 18 to 31, and have been foster carers for six years. They started fostering after their their daughters left for university, meaning they had a spare bedroom.
Their youngest son has been heavily involved with fostering, and all their children are invested, lending a hand with making sure someone is at home for their foster siblings.
The social workers have always included the whole family with the fostering process, their youngest son even went to panel with them.
Bev's career has mostly involved working with children
As a civilian station officer for the police, she often sees children arriving with a parent who had been arrested. This is usually distressing, and upsetting. One incident made a deep impression and encouraged Bev to become a foster carer.
"A two-year-old came in with his mother who had been arrested. She wasn't in a fit state physically or mentally. The little boy had been hurt by his mum and had injuries on his body. It was Christmas Eve and there was nobody available to help, so I looked after him all night. Then in the early hours of Christmas morning, we had to take him to a children's home.
The staff were amazing, warm and welcoming. But I couldn't help feeling that it would be better for such a young child to go to a foster family."