Foster Wales Anglesey is part of the new national campaign encouraging potential foster carers to ‘bring something to the table’.

Yesterday (Monday 8 January), Foster Wales (the national network of 22 Local Authority fostering teams), announced plans to recruit over 800 new foster families across the country by 2026.

There are currently 146 children in foster care on Anglesey and only 56 foster families, which means more families are needed.

The new ‘bring something to the table’ campaign wants to inspire people from all walks of life to consider fostering with their local authority.

Utilising Foster Wales’ greatest assets (its foster carers), the campaign aims to utilise their experiences to highlight the small, but significant human attributes people possess that makes the world of difference to a young person in care.

Gwynfor and Barbara are experienced foster carers who’ve been with Foster Wales Anglesey for over seven years, they explained:

“The training and support that is provided by Foster Wales Anglesey is excellent. Foster Wales Anglesey is the first local authority in Wales to put forward foster carers for trauma informed schools practitioner training; this has supported Anglesey in becoming a trauma informed authority and shows the level of support that’s available to foster carers on Anglesey.”

Gwynfor, who features in a video for the brand-new national campaign, added, “It’s important that the children are made to feel part of the family from the moment they arrive at our home. It’s like cutting a cake and making sure that everyone in the household has the same size piece, it immediately makes the young person feel an equal part of the family.”

“Do you have the space, the time, the love to give? It doesn’t matter if you’re working, or not, everyone has something to offer. You’re not on your own, the support is fantastic – you’ll have the whole team and other, experienced local foster carers there to support you, every step of the way. I’d encourage anyone who’s interested in fostering to just go for it! You won’t regret making that decision, the rewards from seeing the difference you make to a child’s life will last with you and the child forever.”

Anglesey’s Director of Social Services, Fon Roberts, said, "Our own foster carers do an incredible job. They support children by offering their skills, experience, empathy, and kindness to ensure they feel safe and secure.”

“However, like many other parts of Wales, we need to significantly increase the number and diversity of foster carers on Anglesey to ensure that all local children have a welcoming home and the right foster carer for them.”

He added, “When you foster with Foster Wales Anglesey our outstanding team ensures you have access to dedicated local knowledge and support, a brilliant learning and development package. More importantly, you can help children stay in their own local community, close to family and friends, their school and everything they hold close. This allows our looked after children to remain on the Island, playing an important and worthwhile part in their local community.”

“We would encourage anyone who wants to make a difference to a child’s life to bring their skills and experience to the table and get in contact with Foster Wales Anglesey.”

Members of the Foster Wales Anglesey team will be on hand at the following locations for anyone who wants to know more about fostering:

23 January 2024

Oriel Môn, Llangefni from 11am to 2pm

6 February 2024

Asda, Llangefni from 11am to 2pm

9 February 2024

Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor (with Foster Wales Gwynedd) from 11am to 2pm

20 February 2024

Morrisons, Holyhead from 11am to 2pm

Currently, Wales is in the process of a whole system change for children’s services.

The changes proposed in the 2021 co-operation agreement between Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru made a clear commitment to ‘eliminate private profit from the care of looked after children.’

This means, by 2027, care of children that are looked after in Wales will be provided by public sector, charitable or not-for-profit organisations, and the need for local authority foster carers is greater than ever.

Anglesey’s Portfolio Holder for Children, Youth and Housing Services and Deputy Council Leader, Councillor Gary Pritchard, explained, “We hope to welcome many more people into fostering with Foster Wales Anglesey over the coming months.”

“There are many benefits to fostering with your local authority; support from a local expert team, learning and development opportunities and a generous financial support package. Most importantly, by becoming a foster parent or family, you can help provide local young children with the opportunity to remain a valuable member of their local community.”

He added, “Anyone who fosters with us does so safe in the knowledge that we’ll be with them every step of the way, providing the dedicated expertise, advice and training needed to support their fostering journey.”

For more information about fostering, or to make an enquiry, go to the Foster Wales Anglesey website.

Call: 01248 752772

Email: fostering@anglesey.gov.wales

Ends 9 January 2024

Notes to editors

As part of its research, Foster Wales spoke to over 100 people to develop the campaign. This included foster carers, social workers, teachers, members of the public, and care leavers.

The responses highlighted three key finding that stop potential carers from enquiring:

• A lack of confidence in their skills and ability to support a child in care.
• The belief that fostering doesn’t fit with certain lifestyles.
• Misconceptions around the criteria to become a carer.