Eight years ago Mark Grainger was working long hours for the Highways Agency and spending too much time away from home.

With his son and daughter growing up quickly, Mark felt he still had plenty to give to children and young people and that the nurturing side of parenting was something he didn’t want to lose, especially with his own children become more independent.

Mark decided to give up his job and took up fostering - and he’s never looked back.

Together with his wife Dawn, who has 36 years’ experience working in children’s services, the couple became foster carers for two brothers, who are now aged 14 and 15.

The initial short-term placements soon became long-term with the boys thriving and enjoying family life.

Mark, who is 57, said: “As a new foster carer, I wanted to try taking children who needed short-term care, however at the first review meeting, we were asked whether we’d consider having the children we had been looking after on a long-term basis.

“The boys had become part of the family and we loved going on holiday together - we wouldn’t dream of going away without them.

“My own children are 15 years older than the boys and have already left home, so we have even more time now to dedicate to being foster carers.

“It’s so rewarding and I would definitely recommend it.”

The brothers call Mark’s mum nan and she treats them the same way as her grandchildren, spoiling them on their birthday and at Christmas.

Mark added: “The boys are very lucky but we consider ourselves to be lucky too.

“Seeing how happy the boys are at home and in school is fantastic, as they’ve made massive progress with their education.

“Deciding to become long-term foster carers wasn’t an easy decision but it was definitely the right one.”

Bolton Council would love to hear from you, if you would like to become a foster carer, and they will support you on your fostering journey.

Make that first step by requesting an information pack by emailing fostering@bolton.gov.uk, visiting www.bolton.gov.uk/fostering or ringing 0800 107 1564.

Could you help make a difference and foster a young person?

Every year tens of thousands of children and young people are unable to live with their own families and need foster carers to look after them.

If you want to work with children, there is nothing quite like fostering.

It's possible to combine fostering with caring for your own children or combine it with other work, depending on the needs or the age and needs of the children and young people in your care.

There are many different types of fostering and when you become a foster carer, you can choose what's right for you and your family.

Foster carers work with a team of other professionals providing children with the highest standard of care and, together with their professionalism, they offer love, warmth and a positive experience of family life.

It's important that children live with families that are a good match, looking at location, culture and lifestyle as well as language and interests.

More foster carers are needed to offer homes to teenagers, disabled children and sibling groups.

For more information about becoming a foster carer visit www.bolton.gov.uk/fostering, email fostering@bolton.gov.uk or call 0800 107 1564.