Fostering Song Hopes To Hit The Right Note This Christmas!

Step aside Cruz Beckham – some local child-stars are aiming for a hit this Christmas with a song about fostering. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Released by Bridgend County Borough Council, ‘Now is the time’ was written and recorded by both young people in care, and sons and daughters of foster carers, to highlight the pressing need for more foster carers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The track was created via a workshop facilitated by Community Music Wales, before Bridgend College student Lukas Amosovas remixed it to add the final touches. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The song was released this week on YouTube and SoundCloud in a bid to compete for the most played song over the Christmas period. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is hoped the song, and the publicity surrounding its release, will raise the profile of foster care and encourage more people to think about fostering. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help, Councillor Phil White, said: “It’s fantastic that the looked after children and the sons and daughters have worked together to produce such a great song, which has strong messages behind it – namely that now is the time to foster. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Hopefully the words of the young people will resonate with people and encourage them to enquire about fostering, especially as there will be some children in Bridgend County Borough who won’t have anything to smile about this festive period. We need to recruit new foster carers so that children and young people can be placed closer to their school, family and friends. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Fostering does changes lives for the better and many of our foster carers say that helping a child at a time when they need it the most is extremely rewarding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Even if you’re not in a position provide a safe and loving home to a child, you can still help spread the fostering message by listening to the song and sharing it with friends and family.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Foster carers receive an allowance, training and extensive support, including access to experienced foster carers – including support groups. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Bridgend Foster Care Team also organises regular meet and greet sessions that provide friendly information on fostering, including a no-obligation chat with social workers and current foster carers. The next session will take place on Tuesday 17 January at 6.30pm in Bridgend Life Centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​