We've received so much more back than we've ever given and that's been really lovely. -I love my Nikki because she cuddles me. She takes me on holiday, she brings me to school and she gives us pocket money. Best carer ever. "C - A - R - A" [laughs]. [Voiceover] Nikki and Jeff started fostering 9 years ago, and the family tree in their home carries all the names and all the faces of all the children they've ever looked after. But recently, they took on a new role to help deal with a crisis for kids in care. -Unfortunately, more foster carers are leaving than new ones are coming in. -Why? -Well, I think the word that keeps coming up is support all the time. Not enough support. Of course there's the financial issues as well, but I think that the biggest thing is support and that's why Mockingbird is so important. -[Voiceover] The mockingbird scheme creates a model of care which is just like an extended family. Nikki and Geoff at the Central Hub Home, where they offer advice and respite to several satellite homes where children are placed. -[Nikki reading] Lots of love, yeah. Give me "LOL". -It sounds like you love this job. -[Nikki] We do. It's the best job in the world. -You know, I had a message on the support group today from a carer saying if it wasn't for Mockingbird and the support I get from other carers, I couldn't do what I do. So that says it all. [Geoff] And they're all in front of you, on our wall. So important for the children to know that they're still in our lives and... [voice fades out] [Nikki] I don't want people to think we're sugar-coating this because it can be a very challenging job, can't it? -[Geoff] Yeah. We owe it to these children to be the best we can be. We have to be fully trained. Trauma informed training is vital. All of the children have suffered some form of trauma. So in order to give them the care they need, we have to make sure we focus on the professional element as well. -This is from one of the parents. [Reading] "To Jeff and Nikki. Thank you for being so caring and loving to my girls and truly you are angels. I will succeed with the girls." -[Nikki] Yes, that's from a birth parent. [Voiceover] This work is life changing. But for the second year running, the number of foster carers is in decline as need increases year on year. Better training, more practical and financial support are the things Nikki and Geoff believe will encourage more carers to sign up just as others leave. -Yeah yeah. -Yeah. -[Voiceover] This is Isabel and Lee who are in Spain right now looking for their retirement home. After 20 years of fostering, Lea will be their very last long term placement. It couldn't end with anybody that I could be more proud of. -[Isabel] She is the most important young person that we've had staying with us, and we've had a lot of young people. I would say that I love them very much and I appreciate everything they've done. They're very important to me. -[Interviewer] This is a relationship for life, isn't it? -It definitely is. Lee and Isabel have give me a right kick up the backside and I appreciate it so much. -[Interviewer] Lea - so lots of holidays in Spain, yeah? -Yes. -[Interviewer] 100%. -Ten-hundred percent! -Lea's part of our life. Simple as. -[Voiceover] This is the power of fostering, but also the reality. Too many foster parents are leaving with too few people to take their place. -[Interviewer] All those lovely children that have come through your life will probably be watching this on telly. What would you like to say to them? -[Geoff] Well, you know that we love you. It's been a privilege to have you in our lives. Now go out and achieve the great things that that you all can, because you're all so special. And what would you say to anybody watching this who is curious, who's thinking about fostering? -[Geoff] Don't miss out in what we've had. Speak to your local fostering service and hopefully you'll enjoy what we've enjoyed. -[Nikki] It's life changing. You know, you can change a child's life.