Foster carer Dave Atkins has received Royal recognition for the difference he has made to over 70 Tameside teenagers over the course of 36 years.

In appreciation for how he has changed the lives of so many, Dave was invited to the King’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. Dave said: “I couldn’t believe it had happened to me - it was fantastic. I had to think why am I here and really, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the wonderful young people I’ve cared for over the years, and what they’ve managed to achieve."

Dave (79)  is a single male who lives in Audenshaw, who up until a few of years ago worked full-time running his own joinery business whilst fostering for Tameside Council full-time.

Fostering had never even crossed his mind until he began supporting a young boy who worked a Saturday job at Dave’s DIY shop and had been fostered up until the age of 16 years old.

Later, Dave discovered that the lad had been living in a derelict house over Christmas so insisted on offering him a job full-time and training him as a joiner. After working together for a while, both Dave and the young boy heard a fostering advert, which triggered the boy to question Dave about why he’d never considered it.

Dave said: “This made me think about it because the lad said ‘where would I be without you?’ I was worried and said I can’t because I’m a single male, but I saw another advert after that and thought why not I’ll go for it, I’ve got nothing to lose.”

Dave added: “It was the best decision I’d ever made in my life, and I’ve really enjoyed it, I’ve had some fantastic characters. Even those that have been a bit troublesome, they all have good points, and we all keep in touch. The  years have flown by so fast, and I thought well when it goes by so fast it shows you really enjoy the job."

Even though Dave started his fostering journey as a single male with no biological children of his own he is now known as, ‘dad’, ‘uncle’, ‘godparent’ and ‘grandad’.

“I keep in touch with the majority of the lads I’ve fostered, one rang me up the other day who I’d not heard from in years and told me how he incorporates everything I taught him into his life with his four children and partner now.

“I’m still in regular touch with my first placement, who now has a young daughter now, who I call ‘my little princess’. I taught him to be a joiner, and he’s now got his own successful business.

Dave is now coming to the end of his fostering journey, but his message to anyone that has been considering it is:

“Please do enquire about fostering, there’s so many young people there just waiting for an opportunity. You’re bringing someone into your life who can benefit from being in your home, I cannot see how anyone would regret it.  I know times can be difficult but that happens in any family and you work through it with plenty of support, you’re never on your own with any problem so please go for it because these children need you.

"My only regret is I didn’t start earlier. You won’t lose anything by making an enquiry, go for it and it might be, like me, the best decision you’ve ever made, and I really mean that.”

If you have room in your heart and your home, and curious to learn more about becoming a Foster Carer, please take the time to read the information on our website.  

Once you are ready to take the first step on your journey to becoming a foster carer, please get in touch with us via

• The Enquiry Form
• Email at enquire@fosterforgm.com
• Phone on 0300 303 0321

A committed and friendly member of our team will contact you within one working day of your enquiry and are here to answer any further questions you may have about fostering.  They will also explain and guide you through our step-by-step approach in your journey to becoming a foster carer.