Gwynedd Marks Foster Care Fortnight

Local children and teenagers in north Wales need you – it’s time to foster, time to care. That is the rallying cry from a new website launched by local council fostering teams this Foster Care Fortnight (16 – 29 May). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fostering teams across north Wales are working together to encourage more local people to foster children across north Wales, especially children over the age of 10, and they want you to visit the new website. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With over 400 foster carers in north Wales, Gwynedd Council is working with the other five authorities in the area to provide care for over 1,000 looked after children and young people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

According to The Fostering Network, every 20 minutes across the UK a child comes into care in need of a foster family, and we do not have enough foster carers in north Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Mair Rowlands, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member who leads on matters relating to Children and Young People said: “Fostering is an immensely rewarding and professional role, and it takes very special qualities to be a foster carer. We need local people who can provide safe, caring and a nurturing family environment where children can develop and thrive, and reach their full potential ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Foster carers are not alone. Experienced teams work together with foster families to provide the support needed to help carers through the difficult times and help children to overcome the trauma they may have experienced in their early life. If you’d like an informal chat, our officers from the fostering team would be more than pleased to discuss with you.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The criteria to become a foster carer may be more open than you think. Many people rule themselves out of fostering, but we would encourage them just to speak to us before giving up on the idea. There is no upper age limit or specific qualifications required, and you can be single and combine fostering with other work. However, you will need to be over 21 and have a spare bedroom. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There are different types of fostering to suit you and your family, but the most important thing is that you can spend time with children, listen and provide stability even when the going gets tough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you’re interested in finding out more about fostering in Gwynedd, staff from the Council’s Fostering Team will be available to discuss at the Deiniol Shopping Centre in Bangor on Friday and Saturday (20 and 21 May) from 10am to 3pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​