Real Voices Tell Of Foster Care Experiences

The real voices of foster children, foster carers and their families are being used to tell of their foster care experiences this Foster Care Fortnight. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The real voices are being used in a series of short audio videos as part of Foster Care Fortnight, and offer a unique, personal insight into foster children and carer’s experiences of fostering with Caerphilly County Borough Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The online clips are being showcased through the council’s digital media channels during Foster Care Fortnight (16th to 29th May). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In one of the clips, Amy* says “I first came into long term foster care when I was about 10, and when we were first introduced to my foster carers me and my sister were really nervous, but we started to go on day trips and to visit our long term house which made us feel at ease. I was so happy when we moved in; our foster carers were great and made us feel at home straight away. I don’t think I could ever repay them for giving me and my sister such a great start in life”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In another, a foster carer says, “Children in foster care haven’t chosen to be there, and deserve to be given every opportunity to live a life that gives them love, happiness, hopes and dreams. It is so rewarding being a foster carer – a smile, a cwtch, a thank you – sometimes something so small can mean so much to you. Fostering is about you having the patience, commitment and dedication to help children and young people who deserve to be helped”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Robin Woodyatt, Cabinet Member for Social Services said, “The very real voices of some of our foster children, their carers and families offer a personal insight into their experiences of fostering with us. The national Foster Care Fortnight campaign is an excellent opportunity to highlight the crucial role that foster carers and their families play in welcoming a child or children into their homes, while also hopefully encouraging others to get in contact to find out more about becoming a foster carer”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

You can also view them on our YouTube channel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6WU5zg1_Zg ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JX6aK5PrjM ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE1kc2EVr8M ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​