Time To Foster, Time To Care

Bridgend County Borough Council is supporting the Fostering Network’s annual Foster Care Fortnight (16-29 May) campaign by asking people if they have the time to care. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For two weeks every year, the UK’s biggest foster care awareness raising campaign takes place, with lots of activities and events taking place across the country. The aim of the annual campaign is to raise awareness and encourage people from all backgrounds to find out more about the opportunities of becoming a foster carer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Time to Foster, Time to Care’. The message is directed at prospective foster carers, emphasising that NOW is the time to start their foster journey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

hoped that the ‘Time to Foster, Time to Care’ campaign will encourage people to decide that now is the time to foster. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Graham and Rose Clifford, from Cefn Glas, have been fostering for over 20 years. Talking about why they decided it was time for them to foster, Graham said: “My wife and I used to work in the care profession and really wanted to make a difference to young people by providing them with a family and home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have been fostering for a considerable amount of time and still thoroughly enjoy doing it. We love helping and supporting children, encouraging them to meet their full potential. This is something we are still passionate about.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With a shortage of 550 foster carers in Wales, Bridgend Foster Care are looking for more people who can provide safe and caring homes for young people aged 0 – 18 years who can no longer stay with their birth families. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As of 31 March 2016, there were 380 looked after children within Bridgend County Borough, which is made up of babies, toddlers, teenagers, siblings, those with complex needs and children with disabilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services and Equalities, Councillor Hailey Townsend, said: “We have fantastic foster carers who are committed to providing foster children with safe and loving family environments. However the reality is that we need more! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The number of people deciding to foster has slowed down but the number of children and young people entering the care system hasn’t. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In addition, many looked after children are part of a sibling group and ideally we don’t want to separate them, so it would great to more applications from people who can keep brothers and sisters together.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In support of this year’s Foster Care Fortnight campaign, a new website has been launched – www.timetocare.wales. Features include a game where you have the chance to win £50, videos, blogs written by our foster carers – plus you can find out about Bridgend Foster Care’s plans to release a song in time for Christmas to spread the fostering message far and wide! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Bridgend Foster Care team also organises regular meet and greet sessions that provide friendly information on fostering, including a no-obligation chat with a social worker and foster carer. The next session will take place on Tuesday 24 May at 7pm in Bridgend Life Centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​