11/05/20

Cardiff Council is celebrating Foster Care Fortnight, starting today, by sending a clear message to potential foster carers in the city - ‘We still need you!'

Foster Care Cardiff is continuing to recruit foster carers despite the current health emergency and is keen to hear from anyone who wants to find out more about fostering and thinks they can use their skills, knowledge and expertise to help enrich and improve the lives of Cardiff's children and young people. This can be for either short breaks, respite or long-term care.

Foster Care Fortnightis an annual campaign to raise awareness aroundfoster careand to celebrate the devotion offoster carersand the positive impact that they have on our local communities. The theme of this year's campaign, which runs from May 11 to 24, is ‘This is Fostering'.

City Hall will be illuminated in orange, Foster Care Cardiff's distinctive colour, from May 15 to 24 in recognition of Foster Care Fortnight.

Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Cllr Graham Hinchey, said: "I have had the privilege of meeting a number of foster carers in the city over the last few years, people who are new to the role and those who have been fostering for years. It has been my absolute pleasure to hear about their experiences and Foster Care Fortnight is a chance to show our gratitude to all those foster carers who are making a real difference in the lives of children and young people. Thank you to you all. You're doing an amazing job.

"When people decide to join Foster Care Cardiff, they can be confident that they will have access to first-class support networks, varied opportunities and training and a very generous rewards package. For example, our enhanced offer means that the  minimum amount a  carer  could receive fostering  one  child  is  the  equivalent to  a £25,000 a year salary.

"Despite the difficult circumstances we're all living through, Foster Care Cardiff continues to support and provide guidance to all our foster carers and we still want our Foster Care Cardiff family to grow as there are many more children in our city who need a safe and stable home. At the moment, we particularly need people who can look after older children as well as families from black and minority ethnic backgrounds to help us get the perfect match for Cardiff's diverse children and young people.

"If there's anyone out there who has been considering fostering, there is no time like the present for getting in touch with us to find out more. Please do not let the current situation put you off; we want to hear from you."

Foster carer, Diane, said: "I would recommend working with Cardiff Council to anyone thinking of becoming a foster carer. I have worked with them for over 30 years, and in my experience, have always worked alongside a professional and highly supportive team.

"When placing children, they always consider my own needs and the needs of my family unit, and understand any circumstances that may be present with current placements or generally within the family. This has allowed me to continue working as a foster carer for so many years, as placements are always carefully matched in order to be successful. This is not only beneficial to myself and my family, but to the children who are being placed, as it is important for them to be in a sustainable and secure family unit.

"There are many things about being a foster carer that I truly love; however the one that stands out the most is working so close with families and professionals to help improve a child's life. I find it extremely rewarding."

Foster Care Cardiff offers a range of generous rewards and benefits to ensure foster carers are supported, financially, professionally and emotionally. For more information on the service visit fostercarecardiff.co.uk or call 029 2087 3797.

Cardiff Council's social media channels will be celebrating the work of the Foster Care Cardiff family throughout Foster Care Fortnight. Stay tuned @cardiffcouncil on Twitter and cardiff.council1 on Facebook.