I have friends who have raised their own family, help look after their grandchildren, engage in part-time work and are active in the community. I would class them as model citizens with a strong social conscience.

And then they decided they could do more.

They decided to foster a teenager. They heard that the girl was in need and decided to go ahead without even meeting her.

They felt it would be too hurtful to be rejected by potential foster parents, and besides, any new relationship would take time to work out.