A campaign has been launchedâ¯toâ¯significantly increaseâ¯numberâ¯and diversityâ¯of foster carers in Conwy county.
The campaign by ‘Foster Wales’, the new network of 22 Local Authority fostering services across the country aims to make a substantial national impact on the futures of young people.â¯
With over a third (39%) of Welsh adults saying they have considered becoming a foster carer, a new campaignâ¯launches across Wales this week,â¯aimed at significantly increasing the number and diversity of Local Authority foster carers.
Throughout the country, every child in need of a foster carer is in the care of their Local Authority. The newâ¯bilingualâ¯advertisingâ¯push, representing Foster Wales Conwy and the other 21 not-for-profit Local Authority fostering teamsâ¯that make up⯑Foster Wales’, aims to increase the number of foster parents needed to help keep children in their local area, when that is right for them.
Helping children to stay in their local community can beâ¯ofâ¯great benefitâ¯and mean the world to a child.â¯Not only does it keep them connected to their friends, theirâ¯schoolâ¯and their sense of identity, but it alsoâ¯builds confidence and reducesâ¯stress.â¯
Conwy County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Care and Safeguarding, Cllr Cheryl Carlisle says, “Becoming a foster carer is a decision to help local children who need someone to listen to them. To believe in them.â¯Children who need someone on their side, someone to love them. It’s a decision to work with people who share those aims, people like your Local Authority fostering team here in Foster Wales Conwy.”
There is still a need to recruit an estimated 550 new foster carers and families across Wales every year. This is to keep up with the numbers of children who need care and support, whileâ¯replacing carers who retire orâ¯provide a permanent home to children.â¯â¯â¯
Launching Foster Wales in July, Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan MS, said: “I know from listening to foster carers just how rewarding fostering can be. This new initiative will benefit looked after children and allow Local Authority fostering and recruitment teams across Wales to think bigger, creating a national impact without losing their advantage of specific local expertise.â¯
“This government is committed to reducing the number of children in care, giving care experienced children betterâ¯outcomes, and importantly eliminating the profit element of childrenâ¯in care. Foster Wales is part of achieving this promise and will better enable children to stay in their community and meet the evolving needs of foster children and the people who foster them.”â¯
While no two children are the same, neither is the foster care they need. There is no ‘typical’ foster family. Whether somebody owns their own home or rents, whether they’re married or single. Whatever their gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or faith, there are young people who need someone on their side.â¯â¯
“We hope to welcome many more people into fostering with Foster Wales over the coming months,” addsâ¯Cllr Cheryl Carlisle.
“Anyone who fosters with their Local Authority Foster Wales team does so safe in the knowledgeâ¯that whereverâ¯theirâ¯fostering future takesâ¯them, we’ll be besideâ¯themâ¯every step of the way with all the dedicated expertise, advice and training needed to support theirâ¯fostering journey.â¯
“All children have a right to thrive.â¯Allâ¯we need is more peopleâ¯like youâ¯to open their doors and welcome them in.”â¯
“To those people who feel that they could open up their homes and their hearts for a child in need, please contact the Foster Wales Conwy team and put yourself forward. Conwy children need you, please get in touch.”
The new campaign by Foster Wales will span TV, radio, Spotifyâ¯and digital platforms
To find out more aboutâ¯Localâ¯Authority fostering in Foster Wales Conwy, visit www.conwy.fosterwales.gov.wales.