Always a place at Stephen and Liz’s table

Even at Christmas there is usually a spare place at the table for the couple who’ve fostered more than 100 children over 20 years.

Stephen and Liz Benson say they have lost count of the number of children they have fostered during that time – but say that including temporary and emergency fostering, it has to be more than 100.

That’s why the Macclesfield couple received a long service award from Cheshire East Council’s fostering service at a special Christmas party to celebrate fostering in the borough and thank the many people who have become foster parents and opened their homes to children, other than their own.

With two of their own grown-up children and grandparents to two, Stephen and Liz are still ‘mum and dad’ to scores of others who find a warm welcome at their four-bed home in Macclesfield.

Liz said: “I had a fantastic childhood and wanted to give something back, while Stephen was not so lucky when he was young and wanted to make sure other children in need got the care they deserved.”

Stephen ran an engineering business before retiring and now loves to hand down skills to some of the young people who he and his wife look after. “I’ve managed to teach the children quite a lot,” he said. “I didn’t have a happy childhood and wanted to make sure other kids had the right opportunities in life.

“One child we cared for was brought to us at four in the afternoon on Christmas Eve. The house was already full, but we would never turn any child away. There was some rearranging of rooms. She was safe and had a home for the festive season at least. We took her to a pantomime, and she had presents for Christmas. She stayed with us for eighteen months before moving on.”

Liz and Stephen have seen some of their fostered children go on to university and obtain good qualifications, with many of them still staying in touch, especially at Christmas. 

Councillor Kathryn Flavell, Cheshire East Council lead member for children and families, said: “Liz and Stephen are a model fostering couple and we hope that their experience will encourage others to come forward and apply to become foster parents. The borough indeed the country needs a lot more people like them to open their homes to children in need of love and protection.”

Liz and Stephen have plenty of advice for any couples considering such a step and if you are interested in becoming foster parents please visit the Cheshire East Council website