16 October 2007

Could YOU be a foster carer?

The BBC Wales ‘Family Wanted’ campaign has been drawing attention to the thousands of children waiting to be adopted or fostered in the UK, highlighting the need for more people to act as adopters and foster carers. With over 70,000 children currently in care in the UK, there is a short fall of 10,000 carers.

Like all local authorities, Bridgend County Borough Council needs people to come forward to act as foster carers. Council staff were on hand at a recent Family Wanted event in Swansea to promote the service and provide people interested in becoming foster carers with more information. People who already act as local foster carers provided advice and guidance and shared their experiences.

One couple who already provide foster care are Wendy and Paul Thomas. They list patience, understanding and a sense of humour as perfect qualities for potential foster carers. Over the last three years, they have fostered 10 children ranging in age from 14 months to 12 years, for periods as short as two nights and as long as two years.

“We thought very carefully about fostering as we have two children of our own, “says Wendy. “Fostering can be hard sometimes, but it is very rewarding work.

“While being interviewed and assessed as foster parents, we went on training which ran one evening a week for several weeks. The course covered all aspects of fostering, including what our roles and responsibilities would be. We also had the chance to meet and talk with experienced foster carers.

“Our foster children become part of our life for the time they are with us. They are all special as we have shared so much with them. By the time they are ready to move on, we always feel that we have helped to make a real, positive difference to a child’s life.

“We would recommend fostering to anyone and would encourage anyone thinking about it to get in touch with the fostering team at Bridgend County Borough Council.”

• Foster carers come from a variety of backgrounds. To find out more, call Bridgend Foster Care on (01656) 642349, email fosteringandsupportedlodgings@bridgend.gov.uk or visit the Fostering pages at www.bridgend.gov.uk