I was 22 when I fostered a 15-year-old girl – she was my bridesmaid and now I’ve cared for SIX other children

, Britain's largest fostering and adoption charity, three times as many people in their 20s are enquiring about becoming foster carers now than a year ago.

Once approved by the organisation (they must be over 21 and have a spare bedroom, among other criteria), they can then provide a loving and stable home for children in need.

It's a huge - and incredibly selfless - decision to make.

Yet young foster carers tell Sun Online they can still party with pals and go on fun weekends away - while making a huge difference to the lives of the kids they foster.

"Being younger is not a barrier to becoming successful foster carers," says TACT CEO Andy Elvin.

It's really hard when a child leaves, but unfortunately that's the way fostering is.

We had a six-year-old boy [who], at first was anxious and had quite a few breakdowns, but now fits in great.

He does tag rugby and swimming, and wants to start karate. We hope to have him long-term, maybe until he's 18. I've always said I'd like to adopt.

He and Tommy absolutely adore each other. Their faces light up when the other enters the room.

At Christmas in 2019, both the boys had Christmas Eve boxes left by 'Elfie' - Elf on the Shelf - packed with new pyjamas, festive stories, and treats.

You can still have a social life and go away with pals - it just takes more planning

We visited our close family, enjoyed a three-course meal at our local carvery, went to the Christmas panto, and spent the evening playing games.

Our foster son was so worn out by the excitement we had to actually wake him on Christmas Day! We're now looking ahead to more family time and holidays.

I also want to continue fostering - I absolutely love it.

I'm not majorly bothered about 'missing out' on things like partying. You can still have a social life and go away for the weekend with friends - it just takes more planning.

Don't get me wrong, it's really challenging at times. But when you see the difference you're making to a child and their life, that makes it worth it."

'We've fostered six kids - including a five-month-old baby'

Marie, now 29, and her husband Brayden, now 31, live in West Yorkshire. They have fostered six kids in two years, including a five-month-old baby girl.

Marie says: "I had a perfect childhood and didn't see myself fostering.

I originally wanted to be an air hostess, and even studied travel and tourism at college for a year. I later changed my mind and worked as a carer for the elderly for a while.

I soon realised caring is definitely my thing.

When I was 18, I met Brayden through mutual friends and three years later, on my 21st birthday, we got married. We did discuss having children, but just said: 'Some day'.

As a couple, we used to socialise with friends a lot and go on yearly holidays.

But other than that, we were pretty boring.

Brayden's parents, Michelle and Christopher, were foster carers and, after watching them make such a difference to children's lives, I ended up deciding I wanted to do the same.

'We could just do what your mum does and help other children', I told Brayden.

And fortunately, he agreed.

Applying to become foster parents took about nine months.

While TACT went through our backgrounds in detail - from our upbringings and parents to past employers - we swapped our rented two-bedroom home for a four-bedroom house.

Eventually, in April 2018, we were approved by the charity.

Our first placement was a 12-year-old girl, who came to us straight from home.

She hadn't had a good upbringing really. She wasn't doing well in school and was often in detention. Her little sister had been placed elsewhere.

She did start her periods with us, but she was aware of it all

I was wary to begin with because there wasn't that much difference in age between us - I was only 26 and Brayden was 28. But our new foster daughter was a dream.

She had her own room, which she decorated, and used to have her friend sleep over quite a bit. We took her out for meals, trampolining and on her first ever holiday, to Cornwall.

She did start her periods when she was with us, but she was aware of it all. She had previously had a 'stop gap' at her auntie's - who had prepared her for things like that.

We had a really good relationship with the girl - possibly because we were so young ourselves - but if she wanted a phone in her room and the answer was, 'No', she'd kick off a bit.

Three weeks after she arrived, she asked us if we would mind her calling us 'Mum' and 'Dad'.

We replied, 'Whatever you're comfortable with' - though I must admit when she first started calling me 'Mum' I didn't answer because I didn't know who she was speaking to!

Before long, our foster daughter was doing brilliantly at school, with no detentions. She even became a mentor for younger students, which was so rewarding to see.

Having a baby in the house was a big shock... I didn't have nine months to learn how to do things like feed or bathe her

About four months into her placement, Brayden and I took on another two children - a five-year-old boy, who was quiet and reserved, and his five-month-old baby sister.

They were an emergency placement - I got the call at 10am and they arrived just after 6pm.

Having a baby in the house was a big shock to the system. They are very dependent on you - and I didn't have nine months to learn how to do things like feed or bathe her.

Our older foster daughter was a bit jealous to begin with, but she soon helped them to settle in. We made a lot of happy memories - and shared a lot of laughs - as a family of five.

The youngest loved men - Brayden was definitely her favourite!

The 12-year-old later moved out to live with her auntie, which was the right move at the time. And when the siblings were six and one, they also went to live with a relative.

By this point, the little girl could crawl, lift her head up and had her teeth. I was so proud. I can't lie, it's hard to let go, but we've seen the younger ones since they've left.

And just a day after they left last year, three other siblings moved in!

They're seven, six and four, and as mad as a box of frogs.

They keep us on our toes, but are all lovely. We've put up reward charts on their walls for good behaviour, which work a treat, and take them to school every day.

Brayden and I both work - I do healthcare training and he's a groundworker.

We don't work at the same time, but we think it's really important the children see both of us working. They need to know it's something you do to get money.

Although we're the only ones with children in our friendship group, our pals are brilliant - they'll come to us, and Michelle looks after the kids if we're out for a birthday.

Fostering doesn't ruin your life - you can still party, just not all the time.

Brayden and I were never party-goers anyway. I get more pleasure out of buying the children things rather than myself... they're better dressed than me!

I'm a maternal person - but we don't want our own kids.

We've got enough on our hands, and I feel like fostering is more rewarding anyway.

I hope we can keep doing it into old age."